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fw
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 361
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 Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: THERE'S and THERE'RE |
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Just as �there is� is often contracted to �there�s� when written, I thought �there are� is often contracted to �there�re� when written. Recently I heard that �there�re� is usually not used unless it is uttered sloppily or rapidly.
(1) Is what I heard recently correct?
(2) If it is, how come �there�s� is common while �there�re� is not? |
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Just as �there is� is often contracted to �there�s� when written, I thought �there are� is often contracted to �there�re� when written. Recently I heard that �there�re� is usually not used unless it is uttered sloppily or rapidly.
(1) Is what I heard recently correct?
(2) If it is, how come �there�s� is common while �there�re� is not? |
First, you'll have to explain what this...
I heard that "there're" is usually not used unless it is uttered sloppily or rapidly
...has to do with this:
I thought "there are" is often contracted to "there're" when written.
Or, what would be better, rephrase your question a little more clearly. 
Greg |
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pugachevV
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2295
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:37 am Post subject: |
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In normal conversation there are often sounds like "there 're". pronounced more like "there-uh".
If you are writing formally, you should write in full: "there is"- "there are"- unless you are writing dialogue, in which case it is acceptable to use the elisions. |
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fw
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="dragn"]
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Or, what would be better, rephrase your question a little more clearly...
Greg |
I am sorry my question was not well written. How about this?
I think since �there is� in speech is often transcribed into �there�s,� �there are� in speech should also be being transcribed into �there�re.� Recently, however, I heard that �there�re� is actually not so much used in transcription as "there's" is, although both "there's" and "there're" are the very sounds you actually hear in speech.
(1) Is what I heard recently correct?
(2) If it is, how come �there�s� is common in transcription, while �there�re� is not? |
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I think since �there is� in speech is often transcribed into �there�s,� �there are� in speech should also be being transcribed into �there�re.� Recently, however, I heard that �there�re� is actually not so much used in transcription as "there's" is, although both "there's" and "there're" are the very sounds you actually hear in speech.
(1) Is what I heard recently correct?
(2) If it is, how come �there�s� is common in transcription, while �there�re� is not? |
I would say that the statement is reasonably accurate. We probably do tend to write there're less frequently than it is actually uttered in speech. That would help explain why there's appears more frequently in written English than there're. Thus, you seem to be answering your second question before even asking it. I'm not trying to be difficult; I really am trying to understand your question. However, it's as if you were asking "So if the sky really is blue, then why is the sky blue?" I'm missing something, but I don't know what.
Well, anyway. Another factor that probably contributes to the higher frequency of there's over there're is the fact that in many spoken sentences native speakers use there's even when there are or there're would be grammatically correct. Sometimes even when the noun that follows is plural, there's is still used more often than you might think. It's easier to say and it just slides by unnoticed.
There's some apples in the fridge.
There's a couple of guys here to see you.
There's still a few problems with the report.
This happens even more often when one or more words, often quantifiers, separate there's from the plural noun.
I hope we're getting close. 
Greg |
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