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English grammar · Level A1

There is / there are: rules and table

There is / there are says that something exists or is somewhere, and introduces new information: There is a cat on the sofa. Use there is with singular and uncountable nouns and there are with plurals. English usually starts with there and puts the place at the end: There are two windows in my room.

Author: Anastasiia SokurUpdated

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Contents
  1. There is / there are: table
  2. There was, there were, there will be
  3. There is or it is?
  4. Is or are with a list?
  5. Common mistakes
  6. Check yourself
  7. FAQ

There is / there are: table

There is and there are: positive, negative and question forms
FormSingular / uncountablePlural
PositiveThere is a bank near here.There are some shops near here.
NegativeThere isn’t any milk.There aren’t any chairs.
Negative with noThere’s no milk.There are no chairs.
QuestionIs there a lift?Are there any questions?
Short answerYes, there is. / No, there isn’t.Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.
How many / much?How much milk is there?How many people are there?

Some is for positives, any for negatives and questions. Some appears in questions for offers and requests: Would you like some cake?

There was, there were, there will be

Is / are change with the tense, just like the verb to be.

There is / there are in different tenses
TenseSingularPlural
Presentthere isthere are
Pastthere wasthere were
Present Perfectthere has beenthere have been
Futurethere will bethere will be
be going tothere is going to bethere are going to be

  • There was a concert in the park yesterday.

  • There will be a test on Friday.

  • There have been a lot of changes.

There is or it is?

There is introduces something new. It is describes something already mentioned. Place and time usually go at the end; for the prepositions there see in, on, at.

  • There’s a new café on our street. It’s really cosy.

  • There’s a problem with my laptop.

Is or are with a list?

Is / are agrees with the first noun after it: There is a sofa and two chairs. There are two chairs and a sofa. In speech you often hear there’s with plurals, but write there are in exams.

Common mistakes

What learners of English often say. On the left — the mistake, on the right — the correct version.

  • Wrong: In my room is a big window.

    Right: There is a big window in my room.

    Something new in a place: there is.

  • Wrong: There is two cats.

    Right: There are two cats.

    Plurals take there are.

  • Wrong: There are some milk.

    Right: There is some milk.

    Milk is uncountable: is.

  • Wrong: Is there some questions?

    Right: Are there any questions?

    Questions use any; plurals use are.

  • Wrong: There have a lot of people.

    Right: There are a lot of people.

    There + be, not have.

  • Wrong: There will a party.

    Right: There will be a party.

    Will needs be.

Check yourself

Quiz: There is / there are

12 questions with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up.

there is · there are · is there?

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FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

When do you use there is and there are?

There is with singular nouns (There is a book) and uncountable nouns (There is some water). There are with plurals (There are three books).

How do you make a question with there is?

Put is / are first: Is there a pharmacy near here? Are there any good restaurants? Answer: Yes, there is / No, there aren’t.

Why does English need there?

An English sentence needs a subject, and there fills that slot when we introduce something new: There is a park near my house. Here there doesn’t mean “in that place”.

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