A1 Grammar Existence

There is / There are

Use there is and there are to say that something exists or is present: There is a cat on the sofa. There are two windows in the room. The verb agrees with the noun that follows.

The construction there is / there are introduces something for the first time or states that it exists. Here there is not a place word; it is a "dummy" subject that lets us put the real subject after the verb: There is a problem. This is called the existential there, and it is one of the most useful structures in early English, appearing whenever we describe rooms, lists, situations and quantities.

The single most important rule is agreement: the verb matches the noun that comes after it. Use there is with singular and uncountable nouns, and there are with plurals. Getting this agreement right, in the present, past, negative and question forms, is the foundation for fluent description.

Singular and Plural

There is goes with one thing or an uncountable noun; there are goes with more than one. In speech, there is usually contracts to there's.

Noun Form Example
SingularThere is / There'sThere is a book on the desk.
PluralThere areThere are three books on the desk.
UncountableThere isThere is some milk in the fridge.

Negatives, Questions and Short Answers

Add not for negatives and move is/are before there for questions.

Form Singular Plural
NegativeThere isn't a key.There aren't any keys.
QuestionIs there a key?Are there any keys?
Short answerYes, there is. / No, there isn't.Yes, there are. / No, there aren't.

The agreement rule: the verb always matches the first noun after it. In a list, look at the very next item: There is a pen and three books (singular is, because a pen comes first) but There are three books and a pen (plural are).

Past Forms: There was / There were

To talk about the past, use there was (singular/uncountable) and there were (plural):

There is vs It is

Learners often confuse these. Use there is to say something exists; use it is to describe or identify something already known: There is a car outside (it exists) but It is a red car (describing that car). There introduces; it refers back.

Common Mistakes

Practice Exercises

Grammar Quiz

Choose is or are for each sentence.

Cloze Dropdown

Pick there is or there are to complete each line.

Complete the Sentence

Describe a room using there is and there are.

Matching Pairs

Match nouns with the correct verb form.

Unjumble

Reorder words into a there is / there are sentence.

Flash Cards

Drill present, past, negative and question forms.

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Explore related grammar topics:

All Grammar Topics Subject-Verb Agreement Countable & Uncountable Quantifiers Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you use there is and there are?
Use there is with singular and uncountable nouns (There is a cat; There is some milk) and there are with plural nouns (There are two cats). Both say that something exists or is present somewhere.
What does there mean in there is?
In there is, the word there is not a place word; it is a "dummy" subject that lets the real subject follow the verb. It simply introduces the existence of something: There is a problem means a problem exists.
How do you make there is negative?
Add not after the verb: there is not (there isn't) and there are not (there aren't). In negatives, use any, not some: There isn't any sugar; There aren't any chairs.
How do you ask questions with there is?
Put is or are before there: Is there a bank near here? Are there any seats? Short answers repeat the verb: Yes, there is. No, there aren't.
What are the past forms of there is and there are?
The past forms are there was (singular and uncountable) and there were (plural): There was a storm; There were many guests. Negatives and questions follow the same pattern: There wasn't time; Were there tickets?
Which verb do I use in a list with mixed nouns?
The verb agrees with the first noun after it. There is a pen and two books uses is because a pen comes first, while There are two books and a pen uses are. Reorder the list if you want a particular verb.
What is the difference between there is and it is?
Use there is to introduce something or say it exists (There is a car outside), and it is to describe or identify something already mentioned (It is a red car). There introduces; it refers back.
Do I use some or any with there is and there are?
Use some in positive sentences (There are some apples) and any in negatives and questions (There aren't any apples; Are there any apples?). This follows the normal some/any rule for quantity.
Can there is be used with uncountable nouns?
Yes. Uncountable nouns like water, bread, information and money take there is because they are grammatically singular: There is some water in the bottle; There isn't much time. Never use there are with an uncountable noun.
Is there's are correct in informal English?
In casual speech some people say there's two people before a plural, but this is non-standard. In careful writing and exams, always match the verb to the noun: use there are two people, not there's two people.