Q
Hard 1 Mark
English Subject-Verb Agreement
There _____ a pen and two notebooks on the teacher's desk this morning.
Explanation
When 'there' is followed by a list, many style guides allow the verb to agree with the first item listed; 'a pen' is singular, so 'is' is acceptable.
Reference: Skoolyst English Grammar Series , Page 1
Hint
When multiple items follow 'there is/are,' check which item comes immediately after the verb.
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