Grammar
There is and there are: introduce people and things
You arrive at a new office and want to describe what you can see. Start with there is for one thing and there are for more than one. These short forms help your listener picture the place.
Use there is and there are to introduce singular, plural, and uncountable people and things in statements, questions, and negatives.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
There are two buses at the station. /ðeər ə tuː ˈbʌsɪz æt ðə ˈsteɪʃən/
The short answer
Use there is with a singular or uncountable noun. Use there are with a plural noun. Put the place after the noun when you want to say where the person or thing is.
There are four windows in this room.
Why it works: Windows is plural, so the sentence uses there are.
5 more examples
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There is a note on your desk.
Note is singular, so use there is.
Not this:
The note ison your desk. What changes: This sentence talks about a known note and says where it is. It does not introduce the note. -
There are two bicycles outside the building.
Two bicycles is a plural noun phrase, so use there are.
Not this:
Two bicycles areoutside the building. What changes: This is possible when the bicycles are already the topic, but there are is more natural when you first point them out. -
There is some soup in the kitchen.
Soup is uncountable here, so use there is.
Not this:
There are some bowlsin the kitchen. What changes: Bowls is plural, so this sentence uses there are. -
Is there a quiet place to sit?
Move is or are before there to make a question.
Not this:
There isa quiet place to sit. What changes: This is a statement, so is stays after there. -
There aren't any tickets left.
Tickets is plural. Use are not, often shortened to aren't, to make a negative.
Not this:
There isn't a ticketleft. What changes: Ticket is singular, so this negative sentence uses isn't.
Read the full guide
First, look at the noun after there is or there are. If it names one person or thing, use there is. If it names more than one, use there are. Use there is with an uncountable noun such as water, time, or information.
Introduce something new
Use there is or there are when you first tell someone what exists in a place or situation. The phrase can introduce a person, an object, or an amount. It is useful when you describe a room, a neighborhood, a plan, or a problem.
There is a small park behind the library.
The speaker introduces the park before giving more information about it.
Use there is for one thing
Choose there is with one person or thing. A singular countable noun often has a, an, one, or another word that shows the amount. The short form there's is common in conversation.
There's an empty table near the window.
Which form introduces one problem: there is or there are?
Use there is because problem is singular.
Use there are for more than one
Choose there are with plural nouns. The number may be exact, as in two messages, or less exact, as in several messages. Let the plural noun decide the form, even when a number comes first.
There are several reasons to leave early.
Reasons is plural, so there are matches the noun.
Choose the form for five guests at the door.
Use there are because five guests is plural.
Use there is with uncountable nouns
Some nouns do not usually have a plural form when you talk about an amount. Water, traffic, furniture, and information are common examples. Use there is with these nouns, even when the amount is large.
There is too much traffic on this road.
Traffic is uncountable, so it takes there is.
There is some useful information in the email.
Ask questions with is there and are there
To ask a question, put is or are before there. Use is there with a singular or uncountable noun. Use are there with a plural noun. Any is common before a noun in these questions.
Are there any shops open now?
Shops is plural, so the question begins with are there.
Which question asks about one available seat?
Use Is there a seat available? because seat is singular.
Make negatives with not
Add not after is or are to say that something does not exist. Use there isn't or there is not with a singular or uncountable noun. Use there aren't or there are not with a plural noun. Any is common in these negative sentences.
There isn't any sugar in the jar.
There aren't any lockers in this hallway.
Sugar is uncountable, while lockers is plural. The verb changes to match the noun.
Before you go
Remember this
Use there is for one person or thing and for uncountable nouns. Use there are for plural nouns. Move is or are before there for a question, and add not to make a negative. Check the noun after the verb before you choose the form.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "There is and there are: introduce people and things"
When do I use there is and there are?
Use there is before a singular noun or an uncountable noun. Use there are before a plural noun. For example, say There is a problem but There are several problems.
There is a note on your desk.
Can I use there's with a plural noun?
In careful standard English, use there's for singular and uncountable nouns, such as There's a train at six or There's some coffee. Use there are for plural nouns, such as There are two trains at six.
The note is on your desk.
Why do I say there is some water?
Water is usually uncountable when you mean an amount to drink or use. Uncountable nouns take there is, as in There is some water on the table.
There are two bicycles outside the building.
How do I ask a question with there is or there are?
Move is or are before there. Say Is there a bank nearby? for one bank, and Are there any banks nearby? for more than one.
Two bicycles are outside the building.
How do I make there is and there are negative?
Add not after is or are. Use there isn't or there is not with a singular or uncountable noun, and there aren't or there are not with a plural noun. Any is common before the noun in a negative sentence.
There is some soup in the kitchen.