“There are believed to be some ghosts” or ”There is …”?











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There are believed to be some ghosts in that house



There is believed to be some ghosts in that house




Can anyone tell me which of the to be verb is correct in this case?






grammatical-number conjugation







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  • Similar: “Is likely to be” vs “are likely to be”
    – sumelic
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up vote
0
down vote

favorite
1













There are believed to be some ghosts in that house



There is believed to be some ghosts in that house




Can anyone tell me which of the to be verb is correct in this case?






grammatical-number conjugation







share|improve this question
























  • Similar: “Is likely to be” vs “are likely to be”
    – sumelic
    yesterday















up vote
0
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
0
down vote

favorite
1






1






There are believed to be some ghosts in that house



There is believed to be some ghosts in that house




Can anyone tell me which of the to be verb is correct in this case?






grammatical-number conjugation







share|improve this question
















There are believed to be some ghosts in that house



There is believed to be some ghosts in that house




Can anyone tell me which of the to be verb is correct in this case?






grammatical-number conjugation




grammatical-number conjugation






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 30 mins ago









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asked yesterday









Vi Kiet Tieu

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  • Similar: “Is likely to be” vs “are likely to be”
    – sumelic
    yesterday




















  • Similar: “Is likely to be” vs “are likely to be”
    – sumelic
    yesterday


















Similar: “Is likely to be” vs “are likely to be”
– sumelic
yesterday






Similar: “Is likely to be” vs “are likely to be”
– sumelic
yesterday












3 Answers
3






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1
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The predicate of this sentence 'are believed to be...' is called a modal complex predicate.
Its finite verb form must correspond with the Subject Number which is plural /ghosts/.
So the only grammatically correct sentence is 'There are believed to be...'






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    This is one of those situations where no matter which version of the verb is the correct one, it can still sound awkward.



    Aside from using the correct verb form (the plural, as provided by the other answers), you could also choose to simply rephrase the sentence, avoiding its awkwardness.



    Either of the following would work:




    Some ghosts are believed to be in that house.
    It is believed that there are some ghosts in that house.







    share|improve this answer




























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      The first one is correct since you are referring to the ghosts, which is plural.






      share|improve this answer








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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        1
        down vote













        The predicate of this sentence 'are believed to be...' is called a modal complex predicate.
        Its finite verb form must correspond with the Subject Number which is plural /ghosts/.
        So the only grammatically correct sentence is 'There are believed to be...'






        share|improve this answer

























          up vote
          1
          down vote













          The predicate of this sentence 'are believed to be...' is called a modal complex predicate.
          Its finite verb form must correspond with the Subject Number which is plural /ghosts/.
          So the only grammatically correct sentence is 'There are believed to be...'






          share|improve this answer























            up vote
            1
            down vote










            up vote
            1
            down vote









            The predicate of this sentence 'are believed to be...' is called a modal complex predicate.
            Its finite verb form must correspond with the Subject Number which is plural /ghosts/.
            So the only grammatically correct sentence is 'There are believed to be...'






            share|improve this answer












            The predicate of this sentence 'are believed to be...' is called a modal complex predicate.
            Its finite verb form must correspond with the Subject Number which is plural /ghosts/.
            So the only grammatically correct sentence is 'There are believed to be...'







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered yesterday









            user307254

            73619




            73619
























                up vote
                1
                down vote













                This is one of those situations where no matter which version of the verb is the correct one, it can still sound awkward.



                Aside from using the correct verb form (the plural, as provided by the other answers), you could also choose to simply rephrase the sentence, avoiding its awkwardness.



                Either of the following would work:




                Some ghosts are believed to be in that house.
                It is believed that there are some ghosts in that house.







                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  This is one of those situations where no matter which version of the verb is the correct one, it can still sound awkward.



                  Aside from using the correct verb form (the plural, as provided by the other answers), you could also choose to simply rephrase the sentence, avoiding its awkwardness.



                  Either of the following would work:




                  Some ghosts are believed to be in that house.
                  It is believed that there are some ghosts in that house.







                  share|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote









                    This is one of those situations where no matter which version of the verb is the correct one, it can still sound awkward.



                    Aside from using the correct verb form (the plural, as provided by the other answers), you could also choose to simply rephrase the sentence, avoiding its awkwardness.



                    Either of the following would work:




                    Some ghosts are believed to be in that house.
                    It is believed that there are some ghosts in that house.







                    share|improve this answer












                    This is one of those situations where no matter which version of the verb is the correct one, it can still sound awkward.



                    Aside from using the correct verb form (the plural, as provided by the other answers), you could also choose to simply rephrase the sentence, avoiding its awkwardness.



                    Either of the following would work:




                    Some ghosts are believed to be in that house.
                    It is believed that there are some ghosts in that house.








                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 16 hours ago









                    Jason Bassford

                    15.1k31941




                    15.1k31941






















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                        The first one is correct since you are referring to the ghosts, which is plural.






                        share|improve this answer








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                        Bramble Inhabitant is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          The first one is correct since you are referring to the ghosts, which is plural.






                          share|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          Bramble Inhabitant is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            The first one is correct since you are referring to the ghosts, which is plural.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            Bramble Inhabitant is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            The first one is correct since you are referring to the ghosts, which is plural.







                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            Bramble Inhabitant is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer






                            New contributor




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                            answered 21 hours ago









                            Bramble Inhabitant

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                            New contributor





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