Learn English – there *was* a man and a woman

singular-vs-pluralsubject-verb-agreement

Once upon a time there was a man and a woman who had long, but to no avail, wished for a child.

Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm

Why it is not were? A man and a woman are two people, so it is plural.

The only justification I could think of is the ellipsis: there was a man and there was a woman.

Best Answer

At first glance, I would have said that the reason it is was is because there is always singular.

However, after looking at the linked question, I have to say that it agrees with the first item.

  • There was an apple and an orange on the table. correct
  • There were an apple and an orange on the table. questionable, non-standard?
  • There was some apples and some oranges on the table. questionable, non-standard?
  • There were some apples and some oranges on the table. correct
  • There was an apple and some oranges on the table. correct
  • There were an apple and some oranges on the table. questionable, non-standard?
  • There was some apples and an orange on the table. incorrect, maybe non-standard?
  • There were some apples and an orange on the table. correct

The reason that those cases of "there was" seems questionable and not entirely ungrammatical is because there is singular.

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