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There are a lot of staff vs There is a lot of staff

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'There are a lot of staff' is used when referring to a plural subject, while 'There is a lot of staff' is used when treating 'a lot' as a singular unit. The choice between 'are' and 'is' depends on whether you are emphasizing the individual members of the staff or the collective group.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 5332 views

There are a lot of staff

This phrase is correct when referring to a plural subject.

Use 'there are a lot of staff' when you want to emphasize the individual members of the staff. 'Are' is used for plural subjects.

Examples:

  • There are a lot of staff members working on the project.
  • There are a lot of staff in the office today.
  • They had to lay off a lot of staff.
  • We get a lot of staff turnover, Miss Phillips.
  • A lot of staff prep goes into those segments.
  • There's a lot of pressure on staff and pupils.
  • A lot of the staff are like that around here.
  • I just thought with Mr Selfridge hiring a lot of new staff, there might be something here for him.
  • It's Easter and a lot of the staff are on holiday.
  • Remember there are a lot of neighborhoods... with a lot of 13-year-old guitarists.
  • Keep your wits about you, though, because there are a lot of people in a lot of places who want this Francois dead.
  • There are a lot of Yamamuras.
  • But there are a lot of customers in the cafe.
  • There are a lot of tapes to transfer.
  • There are a lot of things about this country that we should be discussing.
  • There are a lot of electrical phenomena in this area.
  • There are a lot of pressures.
  • There are a lot of unanswered questions, sir.
  • There are a lot of homeless.
  • There are a lot of strangers around.
  • I think there are a lot of shysters in Florida.
  • There are a lot of sheep in the hills.

Alternatives:

  • There are many staff members.
  • There are numerous staff in the department.

There is a lot of staff

This phrase is correct when treating 'a lot' as a singular unit.

Use 'there is a lot of staff' when you want to emphasize the collective group of staff. 'Is' is used for singular units.

Examples:

  • There is a lot of staff available to help with the event.
  • There is a lot of staff working on this project.
  • They had to lay off a lot of staff.
  • We get a lot of staff turnover, Miss Phillips.
  • A lot of staff prep goes into those segments.
  • There's a lot of pressure on staff and pupils.
  • A lot of the staff are like that around here.
  • I just thought with Mr Selfridge hiring a lot of new staff, there might be something here for him.
  • It's Easter and a lot of the staff are on holiday.
  • There is a lot of pressure.
  • There is a lot of useful information in this manuscript.
  • I mean, there is a lot of white.
  • Th-There is a lot of dialogue.
  • There is a lot of damage to this body.
  • There is a lot of cool hardware going up in smoke.
  • There is a lot of sensitivity in that area.
  • I feel there is a lot of scaremongering going on.
  • There is a lot of people in the square.
  • There is a lot of subtext by that performance.
  • There is a lot of anger between us.
  • There is a lot of tension in the country.
  • There is a lot of hypocrisy regarding people from the new Member States.

Alternatives:

  • There is a large amount of staff.
  • There is an abundance of staff members.

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