There is / There are

Logic does not always govern grammar.

For example, which sentence sounds correct: There is more than one way to use these trails.
OR There are more than one way to use these trails.

Native speakers of English vote for the first: There is. Yet logically the subject of is/are is the nominative more. You would think that more would be plural, especially in the phrase more than one.

For this example, I am grateful to my collegiate godson, Bill Egan. He it was who, at age four, presented me with my favorite example of how idiosyncratically English treats its pronouns. Counting a number of objects and holding up two fingers, he said, "I have two--these many." Logically, his grammar would seem correct: if the substantive many is more than one, you would think it should be described by "these," not the standard "this."

The good news: my Microsoft grammar checker will catch There are more than one way. The bad news: It will not catch I have these many toys. (Granted, an advanced speaker might intend these and many to describe the noun independently. "I give unto you these many privileges.")

How do foreigners ever learn our language?

Lord Kinnock Speaks

Recently, the British Council studied how, where, to whom, and by whom English was being taught. The study, published elegantly and presented on the Internet, included a preface by The Right Honourable Lord Neil Kinnock, Chair of the British Council. In his foreword, Lord Kinnock wrote the following sentence:

"The anticipation of possible shifts in demand provided by this study gives all interests and organisations which seek to nourish the learning and use of English with a basis for planning to meet the eventualities of what could be a very different operating environment in a decade's time."

The study results suggest that fewer people, worldwide, are turning to Britain for instruction in English.

I wonder why.

[This blog post is dedicated to Dr. Carlo Graziani.]