'There is/are'
A1 BeginnerThe structures 'there is' and 'there are' indicate the existence or presence of something in a specific location. They function as introductory subjects to mention new information.
Overview
Use there is and there are to say that something exists. We use there is for one person or thing, and there are for two or more people or things.
- Use there is with singular nouns and uncountable nouns.
- Use there are with plural nouns.
Form
There + is/are (+ not) + noun
In speech and informal writing, there is often becomes the contraction there's. There is no standard contraction for there are.
Examples
Common mistakes
It is a book on the table.
There is a book on the table.
Use 'there is' to introduce the existence of an object. 'It is' refers back to a specific object already mentioned.
There are a car in the garage.
There is a car in the garage.
Use the singular verb 'is' because 'a car' is one item.
Practice
Complete the sentence: There ____ five apples in the bag.
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are
Answer:are
Why:We use 'are' because 'five apples' is a plural noun phrase.
Make this sentence a question: There is a hotel near here.
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Is there a hotel near here?
Answer:Is there a hotel near here?
Why:To form a question, we invert the verb 'is' and the word 'there'.
Complete the negative sentence: There ____ any water in the bottle.
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isn't
Answer:isn't
Why:Water is an uncountable noun, so we use the singular negative form 'isn't' (is not).