之前一直认为there be的谓语单复数是根据就近原则
比如: there is a pen and 2 books.
there are 2 books and a pen.
XDF语法老师举的就是这个例子
但是今天看Manhattan,第42页上写了把there be当做一种倒装形式来看
Wrong: There is a young man and an older woman at the bus stop.
Flip it! A young man and an older woman are there at the bus stop.
Right: There are a young man and an older woman at the bus stop.
RON的online lecture说过 A is B的这种情况 的主谓一致怎么找的(is 可以是Be动词的任何形态)
if anything before the verb can be the subject, then that's the subject.
if nothing before the verb can be the subject, then you have a backward construction.
这两句是Ron的原话
所以我觉得这句 there is a pen and 2 books,应该是因为there 不可以当subject,所以这句是个倒装句,动词与后面的a pen and 2 books一致