Learning objectives
- Choose is or are by number.
- Make simple affirmative, negative and question forms.
There is and there are
There is/there are introduce people or things that exist in a place or situation.
Grammar rules
- Use there is with singular nouns: There is a shop.
- Use there are with plural nouns: There are two shops.
- Negative: there isn’t / there aren’t.
- Questions: Is there…? Are there…?
Examples
- There is a bank near my house.
- There are three chairs.
- There isn’t any milk.
- Are there any buses now?
- Is there a toilet here?
Common mistakes
- Do not use there is with a plural noun in careful standard English.
- Do not confuse there with their.
Revision notes
Look at the noun after the phrase.
One → there is.
More than one → there are.