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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Having a brainfart....    

Having a brainfart....



roneydirt
United States

Having a brainfart....
 
How many are there?
 
There is zero.
There are zero.
 
Which is the correct one?  One co-teacher is trying to say one is American English and the other is British.
 
Thanks.

26 Mar 2016      





georginasantanna
Portugal

Hi!
 
I think the right answer is There are zero, because the question is How many are there?
Since the question is plural, the answer has to be plural as well.
I am not sure if there is a difference between American and British English but it is quite common to hear something like: I have zero friends - and friends is plural, once again.
Maybe a native speaker can be of more help. 

26 Mar 2016     



redcamarocruiser
United States

There are zero is the same as there are none.  Georginasantanna �s explaination is logical and sounds right to me.

26 Mar 2016     



gharbi2009
Tunisia

I think there is ellipsis here: there is zero + singular noun / there are zero + plural noun

26 Mar 2016     



alien boy
Japan

 Depends on what you �re counting zero of::

 

There is zero tolerance (uncountable) .
There are zero chances (countable plural)
 
Cheers,
AB 
 
 

26 Mar 2016     



douglas
United States

AB hit the nail on the head.
 

29 Mar 2016