"there are some clothes" o "there is some clothes"

Question

As "clothes" is countless, I would like to know if I have to use "there are" o "there is" in the sentence. Thank you for your attention.

Answer 1

In Spanish this question appears redundant since there is and there are translates as "hay" for both.

If you are questioning what to use in English, then it has to be there are some clothes.

• eso mismo. - elresidente 27 de Ago, 2009

Answer 2

There are some clothes.

Answer 3

HI Nila, we talk about uncountable and countable nouns (not countless)

Clothes is a plural noun, hence not uncountable. So the verb needs to match the number.

Answer 4

Yes, but when you say "there is some money" you use "there is" because "money" is countless and in Spanish it means "hay algo de dinero". But I have the impression that when you say "there is some clothes" you are saying "hay algo de ropa". And when you say "there are some clothes" you are saying "hay algunas ropas". In Spanish it sounds well in the two ways.

Answer 5

Yes, but when you say "there is some money" you use "there is" because "money" is countless and in Spanish it means "hay algo de dinero".

Well, actually, you say "there is some money" because "money" as a noun is singular, thus requiring the third person singular form of the verb "to be" which is "is".

But I have the impression that when you say "there is some clothes" you are saying "hay algo de ropa".

Saying "there is some clothes" is grammatically incorrect, so it would be more like saying, "hayas algo de ropa," right verb, incorrect conjugation.

And when you say "there are some clothes" you are saying "hay algunas ropas". In Spanish it sounds well in the two ways.

In English, we place the word "there" in front of the conjugated verb "to be" to form the equivalent of "hay", "hubo", etc. So, the verb "to be" would need to be conjugated in the third person plural form "are" (due to any object being third person and clothes being plural) and have "there" placed in front of it to get "there are some clothes".

• hayas? haya - qfreed 28 de Ago, 2009

Answer 6

I see... I had always thought that "clothes" was uncountable. That is the reason why it seemed strange to me when I said: two pieces of clothes. Thank you for you information, Heidita.

• you would say "two articles of clothing" - webdunce 27 de Ago, 2009

Answer 7

I'm not sure that I would agree about "clothes" being countable. "There are five clothes on the table." sounds terrible, while "There five books on the table." sounds quite normal. I don't much like the sound of "two pieces of clothes" either. I would change that to "two pieces of clothing". Several web sites state that uncountable nouns only occur in the singular but at least one "www.perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/countable-nouns.htm" agrees with me that there are uncountable plural nouns, as well, and provides examples of about half a dozen.

• I agree - ian-hill 27 de Ago, 2009
• Uncountable nouns cannot be preceded by "many"...instead, they are preceded by "much". Compare "there are many clothes on the table" to "there are much clothes on the table." - webdunce 28 de Ago, 2009
• But "clothes" is plural so many has to be used. It does not make them countable however. - ian-hill 28 de Ago, 2009

Answer 8

I am going to cut and paste some information of the website because I do not understand very well why I cannot say: three scissors (for example).

Here you are: (are you able to explain to me, please?)

Some uncountable nouns are plural. They have no singular forms with the same meaning, and cannot be used with numbers. Examples are: trousers, jeans, pyjamas, pants, scissors, spectacles, glasses, arms, goods, customs, groceries, clothes and thanks

• You could say three scissors but "three Pairs of scissors" would be better. We never say "one scissors" - ian-hill 27 de Ago, 2009
• Do you say 3 pairs of glasses or 3 pair of glasses? I've heard both. - qfreed 28 de Ago, 2009
• @gfreed: one pair, three pairs...to say three pair would be probably be some non-standard dialect (like in the south USA, where i live). - webdunce 28 de Ago, 2009
• whoops, I´m wrong...you can say 3 pairs OR 3 pair...it´s your choice...see http://www.answers.com/pair - webdunce 29 de Ago, 2009

Answer 9

Some uncountable nouns are plural. They have no singular forms with the same meaning, and cannot be used with numbers. Examples are: trousers, jeans, pyjamas, pants, scissors, spectacles, glasses, arms, goods, customs, groceries, clothes and thanks

Most of these words come in pairs: dos piernas, dos cristales (de gafas)....etc, so they always take the plural verb of hay. Others change the meaning in their singular form: arm/arms, custom/customs.....

I'm not sure that I would agree about "clothes" being countable. "There are five clothes on the table."

True, Samdie, I got carried away, I hope none of my students saw this, jeje

Another word which in its singular form changes the meaning.

• Very useful... - nila45 27 de Ago, 2009

Answer 10

I have had a look to the dictionary. I can say: a pair of scissors to refer to "unas tijeras". I can imagine that it is possible that the expression "three pairs of scissors" exists. In that case, it would mean "tres tijeras".

Ian, I have just seen your comment. I think I have been late.

Answer 11

Hola Nila,

Some uncountable nouns are plural. They have no singular forms with the same meaning, and cannot be used with numbers. Examples are: trousers, jeans, pyjamas, pants, scissors, spectacles, glasses, arms, goods, customs, groceries, clothes and thanks

The examples you list are not uncountable; they are nouns that are usually plural.

Uncountable nouns include things like water, sand, money, cheese, rice, equipment, and so forth.

Uncountable nouns almost always take a singular verb, IF they are used as subjects in the sentence.

Compare:

• Rice is grown in Vietnam. (rice is the subject, thus a singular verb is used)
• Some grains of rice are on the floor. (grains is the subject, thus a plural verb is used)

More about uncountable nouns

Even more about uncountable nouns

Answer 12

uncountable nouns are also called mass nouns. you cannot use the word "many" in front of an uncountable noun.

• we say "many clothes" not "much clothes"; thus clothes is a countable noun
• we say "many groceries" not "much groceries"; thus groceries is a countable noun
• we say "many scissors (pajamas, pants, trousers, etc)"; thus these are all countable nouns

you appear to have gotten your information from perfectyourenglish.com's page about countable nouns, and that website is simply wrong concerning this topic. Everything under the heading "Plural Uncountable Nouns" is wrong on that website.

• I am not sure you mean your tag to read "this web site" :-) the link points to another. - Janice 27 de Ago, 2009
• by "this website", i meant the website the link pointed to...not spanishdict.com. i have corrected it to be not so easily misunderstood. - webdunce 27 de Ago, 2009

Answer 13

Also, just in case you don't know...in the "there are/is" construction, "there" is an adverb, "is/are" is the verb...what follows is usually the subject (which is different than the usual English pattern)

I 'm not sure I agree with this. Firstly, I can't imagine that any consensus has been reached by all linguistic bodies regarding the use of expletives in English. Secondly, is it really that helpful to inform someone who is learning English that the notion of sentences containing a subject and verb in a way that can be easily understood and put into practice is in fact not correct in all situations?

• I do not understand what it is with which you do not agree. Do you mean the reference to "there" as an adverb, "is/are" as the verb or to what follows as being the subject?? - Janice 27 de Ago, 2009

Answer 14

Hi Robert-Austi,

I didn't realize it was a controversial topic. After reading your post, I see some sources consider "there" to be acting as a pronoun in such cases (that was news to me). In case it causes confusion -- instead of removing it, as was my intention -- I have deleted the section that you quoted.

Answer 15

"Hay algunas ropas" en español puede ser correcto pero suena raro. Es mucho mas acertado decir "hay algo de ropa". "There is some clothes" es lo mas correcto.

• Es posible que ropa sea considerado incontable en español, pero en inglés sea considerado un nombre plural. Después de leer esta discusión parece más probable la segunda opción. - nila45 28 de Ago, 2009