there is and there are
Saying what exists
- Use there is / there are to say something exists in a place.
- There is a park near my house.
- It's how English says that something is there.
there is / there are
- There is + a singular or uncountable noun: There is a cat.
- There are + a plural noun: There are two cats.
- Short form: There's a problem.
Explore
There is or There are?
There is + singular/uncountable; There are + plural.
Practice
Choose: There ___ a cat on the sofa.
One cat (singular) → there is.
Practice
Complete: There ___ three books on the desk.
Three books (plural) → there are.
Practice
Translate into English: 桌上有三本书。
Plural → there are: “There are three books on the table.”
Negatives
- There isn't + singular: There isn't a bank here.
- There aren't + plural: There aren't any shops.
- Negatives often use any: There isn't any water.
Practice
Is this a correct negative? “There isn't any milk.”
there is not → there isn't, and negatives use “any”. Correct.
Questions
- Put is / are before there: Is there a bank? Are there any eggs?
- Short answers: Yes, there is. / No, there aren't.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Here has many people. → ✓ There are many people here. — to say something exists, use there is / there are, not have.
- ❌ There is two cats. → ✓ There are two cats.
- ❌ There are a milk. → ✓ There is some milk. — you can't count milk.
Practice
Match each mistake to its correction.
To say something exists: there is / there are. Singular → is, plural → are — never “there have”.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
water is uncountable → There is some water.
Key idea
- There is + singular; There are + plural.
- Negative: there isn't / there aren't (often with any).
- Question: is / are before there.
Practice
Describe your room. Write one sentence with “there is” or “there are”.
Example: “There is a bed and there are two chairs.”