Bmblbzzz wrote:I deliberately didn't say whether the dummy there (or here, what, or other word) should take a singular or plural verb. What's certain is the verb can't agree with the object. There are a few ways of doing this and here's a couple of them. etc.
So the initial verb can plural to agree with the few/several/other plural subject of the main sentence or singular to agree with there/here/other dummy subject.
I have loads of trouble identifying Subjects and Objects at the best of times, esp. in complex sentences.
I am not really interested to be honest.
I never actually mentioned them in relation to my "error" initially.
It was "Vorpal" who initially stated the verb should agree with the Object.
I gave it little thought.
I think it's just a case where language doesn't follow prescribed rules.
In many ways there is great beauty in that, and arguably refinement of meaning possibilities too!
My sentence and the other examples you provide are perfectly acceptable to me and I would not hesitate to use them either in speech or written form.