A1 · There is / There are — Lesson

What is "there is / there are"?

Use there is and there are to say that something exists or to describe what is in a place.

there is + singular

There is a book on the table.

there are + plural

There are three books on the table.

there is + uncountable

There is milk in the fridge.

Describing what is in a place

In a room

There is a table and there are four chairs.

In a city

There are many museums in London.

On a desk

There is a laptop and some books.

In the fridge

There is some cheese and there are some apples.

Contractions

there is → there's

There's a problem.

there are → no common contraction

"There're" exists in speech but is rarely written.

Use the full form in writing: there are, not there're.

Negative — there isn't / there aren't

there is not → there isn't

There isn't any sugar.

there are not → there aren't

There aren't any apples.

Singular + uncountable

There isn't a doctor here. There isn't water.

Plural

There aren't any students in the classroom.

Questions — is there? / are there?

Is there + singular ? / Are there + plural ? ✓

Singular

Is there a bank near here?

Plural

Are there any shops in this street?

Short answers

Yes, there is. / No, there isn't. / Yes, there are. / No, there aren't.

Common mistakes

It is a book on the table.

→

There is a book on the table.

existence → "there is"

There are a problem.

→

There is a problem.

singular → there is

There is many people here.

→

There are many people here.

plural → there are

Have there a hotel near here?

→

Is there a hotel near here?

existence question = "is/are there"

Recap

Singular

there is + a/an + noun

There is a book.

Plural

there are + plural noun

There are books.

Uncountable

there is + uncountable

There is milk.

Question

Is/Are there + noun?

Is there a bank?

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