CEFR A1

    There is / There are

    Learn simple words that describe existence and availability of things. Practice how to use there is for singular and there are for plural nouns.

    Learn "There is" and "There are"

    What You Will Learn

    Learn to talk about what exists in places. Use "there is" for one thing, "there are" for many things.

    Learn when to use there is (one thing)
    Learn when to use there are (many things)
    Learn how to make questions: Is there...? Are there...?
    Learn to say when something doesn't exist

    What Are "There is" and "There are"?

    Use THERE IS (there's) with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns to say something exists.

    There is a park near here.There's a problem.There is some milk.Is there a bank?

    Contraction

    'There is' → 'There's' in everyday speech. Only use the full form for emphasis: 'There IS a mistake here — I can see it.' Note: no contraction for 'there are'.

    Use "there is" and "there are" to talk about what exists in a place. They help you describe what you can find somewhere.

    There is (one thing)

    There is a book on the table.

    There is a cat in the garden.

    There is some milk in the fridge.

    There are (many things)

    There are books on the table.

    There are many cats in the garden.

    There are some apples in the basket.

    The Dream House

    In my dream house, there is a big kitchen with many windows. (use "there is" for 1 thing)

    There are two sofas in the living room. (use "there are" for more than 1 thing)

    Is there a garden? Yes, there is a huge garden outside.

    But sadly, there aren't any swimming pools. (use "there aren't" to say there are none)

    "We use 'there is' and 'there are' to describe 1 or more things!"

    Simple Rule to Remember!

    There is = 1 thing. There are = 2 or more things.

    There is a pen. (one pen)

    There are pens. (many pens)

    The Basic Rules

    Follow these simple rules to use "there is" and "there are" correctly.

    Singular: There is

    Use with one thing

    There is a book

    There is some coffee

    There is a problem

    Plural: There are

    Use with many things

    There are books

    There are many students

    There are some problems

    Try It

    Complete these sentences:

    1. "__________ a cat in the garden." (is/are)

    2. "__________ many students in the class." (is/are)

    3. "__________ some water in the glass." (is/are)

    Check your answers

    1. "There is a cat in the garden."

    2. "There are many students in the class."

    3. "There is some water in the glass."

    Questions and Negatives

    Learn how to ask questions and make negative sentences.

    Questions

    Is there...?
    (one thing)
    Are there...?
    (many things)
    "Is there a bathroom here?"

    Negative Forms

    There isn't
    (one thing)
    There aren't
    (many things)
    "There aren't any cookies left."

    "Some" and "Any"

    Some
    Positive sentences:
    "There is some milk"
    "There are some apples"
    Any
    Negative & Questions:
    "There isn't any milk"
    "Are there any apples?"
    "There is some coffee, but there isn't any sugar."

    Want to try a There is / There are quiz?

    Practice with multiple choice questions

    Quick Reference Guide

    One Thing (Singular)

    There is a book
    Isn't there a book?
    There isn't a book

    Many Things (Plural)

    There are books
    Aren't there books?
    There aren't books

    Common Mistakes

    ❌ There have a book

    ❌ There is books

    ❌ Is there any book? (use "a book")

    Ready to test your There is / There are knowledge?

    Challenge yourself with fill-in-the-blank exercises

    Common Mistakes

    ❌ There are a book on the table.

    ✓ There is a book on the table. (singular: one book)

    ❌ There is three students in the room.

    ✓ There are three students in the room. (plural: three students)

    ❌ Is there any students here?

    ✓ Are there any students here? (plural question)

    ❌ There have a cat in the garden.

    ✓ There is a cat in the garden. (use 'is,' not 'have')

    ❌ There is any milk in the fridge.

    ✓ There is some milk in the fridge. (use 'some' in positive sentences)

    Master There is / There are sentence building!

    Drag and drop words to form correct sentences

    Practice Tips

    Look around your room and describe it: "There is a bed. There are two chairs."
    Remember: There is = 1 thing, There are = 2+ things
    Use "some" in positive sentences, "any" in negatives and questions
    Practice with the speaking exercises - listen and repeat

    Speaking Practice

    To practice your pronunciation, listen to the native speaker audio first. Then 'Record' yourself repeating what you heard, then use the 'Playback' button to compare your pronunciation with the native speaker. If you want to record yourself again, simply click 'Delete'!

    There is a beautiful park in my city. There are many trees and flowers there.

    Is there a supermarket near here? Yes, there is one on Main Street.

    There aren't any cookies left. We ate them all!

    Are there any questions? Yes, there are some questions.

    There is a dog in the yard, but there aren't any cats.

    Sorry, there isn't another bus to London today.

    Are there many students in your English class?

    There isn't any sugar for my tea, but there is some honey.

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