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I was at school and my teacher said

There's some in there.

Was that phrase correct? Is it "there is some in there" or "there are some in there"?

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    "There is some X" is fine when X is an uncountable noun, for example water. "There are some Xes" is for when X is a plural noun like horses. However, in speech and also nowadays in reputable newspapers, for example, you can have "There's some Xes ..." Note, however, that you need the contraction "There's", you cannot use two words. "There is some Xes" is ungrammatical!
    – Araucaria - Not here any more.
    Commented Nov 4, 2022 at 23:09
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    Initial There's is OK before anything. When it's at the beginning of the sentence, it's just a dummy, with no meaning or plural, and it's reified into one word before anything plural can happen in the sentence. By the time the real subject comes along, plural or not, the listener will've forgotten how the sentence started. Since it didn't start with anything meaningful except the dummy existential. Incidentally, there is always gets contracted to there's in speech. Not contracting is unusual and draws attention.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Nov 5, 2022 at 13:00

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Both are correct. Some can replace plural countable nouns (verb in the plural) or mass nouns (verb in the singular).

There is some coffee in that cupboard. There's some in there. (uncountable noun)

A: Do you have any pencils?
B: Yes, there are some in that drawer. There are some in there. (countable noun, plural)

Edit: As for the use of there's (careful, not there is) followed by a plural noun, it is informal:

In speaking and in some informal writing, we use there’s even when it refers to more than one. This use could be considered incorrect in formal writing or in an examination:

  • There’s three other people who are still to come.
  • There’s lots of cars in the car park. (Cambridge)
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  • +1, and I'll just add that this also applies to other indefinite pronouns, such as "all", "none" (though some people treat that one differently), and "most".
    – MarcInManhattan
    Commented Nov 5, 2022 at 0:17
  • Can you address the arguable correctness of using "There's X" when X is countable? For instance, how wrong is "Yes, there's some pencils in that drawer."
    – gotube ♦
    Commented Nov 6, 2022 at 5:19
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    @gotube I think the accepted answer of this question on ELL, Can we use "there is" for plural nouns? already does that. But ok, I guess I should oblige a good mod :)
    – fev
    Commented Nov 6, 2022 at 15:14
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Both are correct.

There is some...(Some refers to an uncountable noun)

There are some... (Some refers to a plural noun)

Some is a determiner and a pronoun.

We can use some before a plural noun/countable noun or a mass noun/uncountable noun. Some used before/with an uncountable noun takes a singular verb. Some used before/with a plural noun takes a plural verb.

There is some cake in the kitchen. There are some flowers in the kitchen.

countable - some cars, some tourists,

uncountable- some advice, some help

We can use some on its own.

There were some old books in the room. Some were damaged but some were all right.

I have made tea. Would you like some?

If you need any money, I’ll lend you some.

Some means part of a quantity. We can use some with 'of'

Some of my books are new. (a part but not all)

Some of the money is mine.

Can I have some of the cake?

All and most can also be used before a plural noun or an uncountable noun.

all children, all flowers, most tourists, most people, all information, most tap water, most research

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