Have you ever found yourself asking if you should write there is a lot or there are a lot? The short answer is that if your subject is an uncountable or singular noun, you should use a singular verb. But if your subject is plural, your verb should be plural. Need more help? Read on to learn how to make the right choice every time—including some clever tricks that you can use!
Related:
- Kindergarden or Kindergarten: Which One Should You Use?
- Inspite or Despite: Which One Should You Use?
- Allowed or Aloud: Which One Should You Use?
What Is a Lot?
You can use “a lot” as a quantifier to show you are talking about a large number or large quantity of something. However, it doesn’t indicate singular or plural.
Tip: “Alot” is not a real word; it’s a misspelling of a lot. Moreover, “a lot” and “allot” are different words, with different meanings.
When and How to Use There Are a Lot
You would use “there are a lot” when the subject you’re describing is plural or a count noun. For instance, the subject of your sentence is “apples,” which is a plural countable noun version of “apple.” Since it is plural, you will use “there are a lot of apples.” Here are some more examples:
- There are a lot of signs in this town.
- Oh! There are a lot of animals in the zoo.
- Look over there. There are a lot of cows in the field.
- There are a lot of things hanging on the wall.
- There are a lot of places I still want to visit.
When and How to Use There Is a Lot
You would use “there is a lot” when the subject you are describing is singular or a mass noun (uncountable noun). Here are some examples:
- There is a lot of sugar in this cake!
- There is a lot of frustration in the office these days.
- Are you sure you will like it? There is a lot of red pepper in this recipe.
- There is a lot of steam rising from that teapot.
- There is a lot of interest in your class on social psychology.
Trick to Remembering Which One You Should Use
It can be tough to remember whether to use “is” or “are” with “a lot.” But with these tricks, you’ll be far more likely to make the correct choice:
- Picture it: Visualize the noun in your sentence. If it’s a group or multiple things, use “are.” If it’s a single item or quantity, use “is.”
- Find the noun: If the noun that comes after “a lot” is singular or can’t be counted, use “is;” if your noun refers to multiples (plural), go with “are.”
- Substitute with other words that mean “a lot”: Replace “a lot” with “much” if your noun cannot be counted, and replace “a lot” with “many” (for positive statements)if you’re talking about something countable to see if “is” or “are” fits better in your sentence.If you are wondering about the difference between “much” and “many,” the former is often used in negative statements, while the latter is for positive statements.
Final Thoughts
The English language can be confusing at first. The key to using “there is a lot” or “there are a lot” correctly is finding the subject (the noun) in your sentence. Remember, for subjects that are singular or an uncountable group, use “there is a lot.” On the other hand, for plural and countable subjects, use “there are a lot.”
