There is/are
Beginner (A1)en
There is / there are
There Is / There Are
Remember:
You already know am / is / are.
In this lesson, you will learn how to use there is and there are to say that something exists or that something is in a place.
1. What Do “There Is” and “There Are” Mean?
There is and there are are used to say what is there.
Examples:
- “There is a dog in the garden.”
- “There are two chairs in the room.”
2. When Do We Use There Is / There Are?
You use there is / there are to talk about:
2.1 Existence (something exists)
- “There is a problem.”
- “There are many people here.”
2.2 Things in a place
- “There is a shop near my house.”
- “There are books on the table.”
3. Choosing the Correct Form: There Is or There Are
The form depends on the noun after it.
Use “There is”
- with one thing (singular)
- with uncountable nouns
Examples:
- “There is a cat outside.”
- “There is milk in the fridge.”
- “There is some water on the table.”
Use “There are”
- with more than one thing (plural)
Examples:
- “There are two cats outside.”
- “There are many students in the class.”
- “There are some apples in the bag.”
Important tip:
Always look at the noun, not the place.
4. Positive Sentences
Structure:
There is / There are + noun + place
Examples:
Always look at the noun, not the place.
4. Positive Sentences
Structure:
There is / There are + noun + place
Examples:
- “There is a chair in the room.” (chair = singular → there is)
- “There are three windows in the house.” (windows = plural → there are)
5. Negative Sentences
To make a sentence negative, add not.
Structure:
There is / There are + not + noun
Examples:
- “There is not a TV in the room.” → There isn’t a TV in the room.
- “There are not any chairs.” → There aren’t any chairs.
6. Yes / No Questions
To make a question, change the word order.
Structure:
Is / Are + there + noun?
Examples:
- “Is there a toilet here?”
- “Is there any milk?”
- “Are there two bathrooms?”
- “Are there any students in the class?”
6.1 Short Answers
Yes answers:
Yes answers:
- “Yes, there is.”
- “Yes, there are.”
No answers:
- “No, there isn’t.”
- “No, there aren’t.”
7. There Is / There Are with Some and Any
We often use some and any with there is / there are.
- Some → positive sentences
- Any → negative sentences and questions
Examples:
- “There is some water.” (water = uncountable → is)
- “There isn’t any milk.” (milk = uncountable → is)
- “Are there any shops nearby?” (shops = plural → are)
8. Easy Way to Remember
- One thing or uncountable → There is
- More than one thing → There are
Related Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with words related to this grammar topic