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There is / there are

A1 A1 grammar · lesson 7 of 24

We use there is and there are to say that something exists or is in a place. It is very useful for describing rooms, towns and pictures.

Rule

Use there is with one thing. Use there are with two or more things.

With plural nouns in negatives and questions we usually use any: There aren’t any eggs. Are there any students here?

There’s a park near my house.

There are three bedrooms in our flat.

There isn’t a hospital in this town.

There aren’t any buses on Sunday.

Is there a café here? Yes, there is.

Are there any good films on TV? No, there aren’t.

There are twenty people in the room.

Use there is to say that something exists. Then use it is to give more information about it.

There’s a cat in the garden. It’s black.

Tip: First «there is», then «it is»: first you say the thing is there, then you describe it.

With a list, the verb usually agrees with the first noun: There is a table and four chairs. There are four chairs and a table.

Tip: There are has no short form in writing. Don’t write «there’re».

✗ There is two banks in the street.

✓ There are two banks in the street.

✗ Have a supermarket near here?

✓ Is there a supermarket near here?

✗ It is a book on the table.

✓ There is a book on the table.