There is and there are

We use ⟦there is⟧ and ⟦there are⟧ to say that something exists or is in a place: ⟦There is a cat in the garden.⟧ ⟦There are two books on the desk.⟧ ⟦There is⟧ is for one thing (or something we can't count); ⟦there are⟧ is for more than one.

Key facts

  • One thing: ⟦There is a clock on the wall.⟧ Short form: ⟦There's⟧.
  • More than one: ⟦There are three chairs.⟧ ⟦There are some eggs.⟧
  • Things we can't count (milk, water, money) take ⟦there is⟧: ⟦There is some milk in the fridge.⟧
  • Questions: swap the words: ⟦Is there a bank near here?⟧ ⟦Are there any shops?⟧
  • Negatives: ⟦There isn't a park.⟧ ⟦There aren't any trees.⟧ (or ⟦There are no trees.⟧)
  • In questions and negatives, ⟦some⟧ usually becomes ⟦any⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Choose ⟦is⟧ or ⟦are⟧: ⟦There ___ five apples in the bowl.⟧

  1. ⟦five apples⟧ is more than one.
  2. More than one takes ⟦there are⟧.
  3. ⟦There are five apples in the bowl.⟧

Answer: ⟦are⟧

Example 2

Choose ⟦is⟧ or ⟦are⟧: ⟦There ___ some water in the bottle.⟧

  1. ⟦water⟧ can't be counted (we don't say ⟦one water⟧, ⟦two waters⟧).
  2. Things we can't count take ⟦there is⟧.
  3. ⟦There is some water in the bottle.⟧

Answer: ⟦is⟧

Example 3

Make a question: ⟦There is a library in your town.⟧

  1. In a question, ⟦is⟧ comes before ⟦there⟧.
  2. ⟦Is there a library in your town?⟧

Answer: ⟦Is there a library in your town?⟧

Example 4

Make it negative: ⟦There are some cars in the street.⟧

  1. Add ⟦not⟧ after ⟦are⟧: ⟦aren't⟧.
  2. In a negative, ⟦some⟧ becomes ⟦any⟧.
  3. ⟦There aren't any cars in the street.⟧

Answer: ⟦There aren't any cars in the street.⟧