Possible agreement error 'there's' + plural noun

Short answer: use "there are" with plural nouns. "There's" is a contraction of "there is" (singular), so "there's many" is nonstandard in writing.

Quick answer

There are for plural subjects; there is for singular or uncountable subjects. Avoid the contraction there's with plural nouns in formal writing.

Plural noun after there → use There are (There are many errors).
Singular or uncountable noun → use There is (There is one issue; There is water).
Spoken English often tolerates there's with plurals, but written English favors full agreement.

How the grammar works

In sentences that start with "there," the true subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with that subject, not with "there." For example, in "There are many books," the subject is "books" (plural), so the verb is plural: "are."

Structure: there + verb + subject (There are + plural noun).
Remember: "there" does not change the verb form - the subject does.
Uncountable nouns take singular verbs (There is water), even if the meaning feels large.

Why "there's many" feels natural

Speech often simplifies forms. A contraction like "there's" sounds easier and appears in conversation, so writers replicate it from memory. That habitual speech form can sneak into emails and drafts.

Contractions flatten spoken rhythm; writing preserves agreement.
Fast typing and not rereading increase the chance of keeping the spoken shape.

Spacing and hyphenation notes

Rare errors come from spacing (there 's) or weird contractions (there're). Use the standard spelled forms: "there is" / "there are" or the common contraction "there's" only with singular subjects.

Common causes

Most mistakes come from sound, speed, or uncertainty about which word is the subject. A quick scan helps more than grammar theory when you edit.

Sound-based guessing (it sounds right).
Typing quickly without checking subject-verb agreement.
Overreliance on contractions in formal drafts.

Real usage examples

Work

Wrong: There's many open tickets on the board.
Right: There are many open tickets on the board.
Wrong: There's some issues with the deployment.
Right: There are some issues with the deployment.
Wrong: There's a lot of changes planned next quarter.
Right: There are a lot of changes planned next quarter.

School

Wrong: There's three chapters to read before class.
Right: There are three chapters to read before class.
Wrong: There's several essays due this month.
Right: There are several essays due this month.
Wrong: There's lots of notes to review for the test.
Right: There are lots of notes to review for the test.

Casual

Wrong: There's so many memes about that show.
Right: There are so many memes about that show.
Wrong: There's three options left for dinner.
Right: There are three options left for dinner.
Wrong: There's tons of reasons to go.
Right: There are tons of reasons to go.

Wrong vs right pairs you can copy

Use these quick swaps while editing. They fix agreement without changing meaning.

Wrong: There's many books on the shelf.
Right: There are many books on the shelf.
Wrong: There's five people in the room.
Right: There are five people in the room.
Wrong: There's unexpected delays in shipping.
Right: There are unexpected delays in shipping.
Wrong: There's several problems with the spreadsheet.
Right: There are several problems with the spreadsheet.
Wrong: There's two tickets left for the show.
Right: There are two tickets left for the show.
Wrong: There's many options to choose from.
Right: There are many options to choose from.

How to fix your sentence

Quick three-step edit:

Find the noun that follows the verb (the true subject).
Decide whether it is singular, plural, or uncountable.
Use the matching verb: is/are, or rewrite the sentence in active voice.

Sometimes replacing the structure improves clarity more than a direct swap. Try moving the subject before the verb when that sounds cleaner.

Original: There's a lot of tasks left for Friday. Fix: There are a lot of tasks left for Friday.
Original: There's multiple reasons we should delay.
Rewrite: Multiple reasons suggest we should delay.
Original: There's two candidates who qualify.
Rewrite: Two candidates qualify.

A simple memory trick

Link the verb to the noun that comes after it. Picture the noun first: if you see "books," your brain should supply "are" automatically. Practice by scanning for the noun during a quick proofread.

Ask: "What is the real subject?" If plural → use "are."
Search your drafts for "there's" and fix any plural matches in one pass.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Once one agreement error appears, similar slips often follow. Scan nearby sentences for parallel mistakes.

using singular verbs with plural nouns elsewhere
confusing countable vs. uncountable (a lot of water vs. a lot of people)
odd contractions or incorrectly spaced contractions

FAQ

Is "there's many" acceptable in speech?

Yes. It's common in informal conversation, but nonstandard in formal speech and writing. Prefer full agreement in professional and academic contexts.

Which is correct: "there's a lot of" or "there are a lot of"?

Use "there is a lot of" when the noun is singular or uncountable (There is a lot of sugar). Use "there are a lot of" when the noun is plural (There are a lot of people).

How do I fix a sentence quickly if I'm unsure?

Find the noun after the verb, decide if it's singular or plural, then use "is" or "are." If the sentence still sounds awkward, put the subject first or use an active verb.

Should I correct someone who uses "there's" with plurals in conversation?

Usually not. It's a spoken norm. Correct politely when editing written work or teaching grammar, and show the corrected form instead of just criticizing.

Will grammar checkers catch "there's" with plural nouns?

Most modern checkers flag it in writing and suggest "there are." Still, a quick manual check of the subject after "there" is the fastest safeguard.

Quick habit to avoid the error

Before sending or publishing, scan sentences that begin with "there." Ask, "What's the subject?" If it's plural, change "there's" to "there are" or rewrite the sentence. Make that pause a routine part of your proofreading.