Verb agreement: On the desk, there are/is a pen and a book.

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

On the desk, there is a pen and a book. OR
On the desk, there are a pen and a book.

Which of the above sentence is correct? Any suggestion?

2

Hi Josef,

Both would be acceptable.

In that sentence we assume that the writer/speaker is adding ‘There is’ before ‘a book’.
In the second sentence there is no assumption that the writer/speaker wants to add ‘There is’.

Alan

3

Thanks. Disregarding the assumption, which sentence is more uttered by the native Englishman?

4

Hi Josef,

I would use the first one.

Alan

5

The general rule is:
2. MULTIPLE SUBJECTS
(a) The boy and the girl are here. (b) Both the man and the women are here.
[color=blue][Two subjects connected by and require a plural verb.]

© Either the teacher or the student has the book. (d) Either the teacher or the students have the book.
(e) Neither the boy nor the girl is here. (f) Neither the boy nor the girls are here.
(g) Not only John but also Mary wants to come. (h) Not only John but also his parents want to come.
[color=blue][When two subjects are connected by either…or, neither…nor, and not only…but also, the subject
which is closest to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.]