Rule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
Examples: There are four hurdles to jump. There is a high hurdle to jump. Here are the keys.
NOTE:
The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.
Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
Examples: Three miles is too far to walk. Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense. Ten dollars is a high price to pay. BUT Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag.
Now there (is, are) only one left!
Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
Mustard greens (is, are) my favorite vegetable.
Rice and beans, my favorite dish, (is, are) from my native country, Puerto Rico.
Here (is, are) the mail and newspapers that I picked up for you while you were on vacation.
Politics (is, are) sometimes a dirty business.
Here (stand, stands) Tonya and Robert, the two students who scored 100 percent on the subject-verb agreement quiz.
Fifty miles (is, are) is a long distance.