there is and there are

• 6 there is and there are

  6.1

  Singular and Plural

  

  

  there is / there are means "there exists" (something exists somewhere).

  • There is + singular / uncountable noun: There is a book.
  • There are + plural noun: There are two books.

  （有）There 有is 一只a 猫cat 在on （冠词）the 沙发上sofa.

  There is a cat on the sofa.

  （有）There 有are 三three 书books 在on （冠词）the 桌上desk.

  There are three books on the table.

  Note: In spoken English, there is is often contracted to there's: There's a problem.

  6.2

  Negation and Interrogative

  Negative: there is not / there are not (contracted as there isn't / there aren't).

  （有）There 没有isn't 任何any 牛奶milk.

  There is no milk left.

  Question: Move is / are to the front of there.

  （有吗）Is （有）there 一家a 银行bank 附近near 这里here?

  Is there a bank nearby?

  Short answer: Yes, there is. / No, there isn't.

  Note: Use any frequently in negative / question sentences: Is there any water? (Is there any water?)

  Common Errors

  • ❌ ~~Here has many people.~~ → ✓ There are many people here. — The "have" in the Chinese "There are many people here" indicates existence; use there is / there are in English, do not translate literally as have.
  • ❌ ~~There have a book on the desk.~~ → ✓ There is a book on the desk. — Use is / are after there; there have does not exist.
  • ❌ ~~There is two cats.~~ → ✓ There are two cats. — If the following noun is plural, use are.
  • ❌ ~~There are a milk.~~ → ✓ There is some milk. — milk is uncountable: use there is + some, do not use a.

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