"There is a lot of" vs "There are a lot of"

Question

"There is a lot of" vs "There are a lot of"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'There are a lot of' is used when referring to a plural noun, while 'There is a lot of' is used when referring to a singular noun. The choice between 'are' and 'is' depends on the number of the noun being described.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Use 'there is a lot of' when the noun being described is in singular form. This phrase indicates the presence of a large quantity of something.

Examples:

There is a lot of sugar in the bowl.
There is a lot of work to be done.
There is a lot of information in the report.
There is a lot of traffic on the road.
There is a lot of noise in the city.

Alternatives:

There exists a great deal of
There is an abundance of
There is a plethora of
There is a copious amount of
There is a profusion of

Use 'there are a lot of' when the noun being described is in plural form. This phrase indicates the presence of a large quantity of something.

Examples:

There are a lot of books on the shelf.
There are a lot of students in the classroom.
There are a lot of cars in the parking lot.
There are a lot of trees in the park.
There are a lot of people at the party.

Alternatives:

There exist many
There are numerous
There are plenty of
There are a plethora of
There are countless

Answer 1

There is a lot of

This phrase is correct when referring to a singular noun. 'Is' is used to match the singular form of the noun.

Answer 2

There are a lot of

This phrase is correct when referring to a plural noun. 'Are' is used to match the plural form of the noun.

"There is a lot of" vs "There are a lot of"

There is a lot of

There are a lot of

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