Mastering “There Is” and “There Are”
A Complete Grammar Guide with Examples and Exercises
Introduction
Welcome to your complete guide to using “there is” and “there are” correctly in English! These essential phrases help us talk about things that exist in a particular place. This lesson is perfect for A2-level learners who want to master these structures in all their forms (affirmative, negative, and questions) while understanding how they differ from “it is” and “they are”.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:
- Correctly choose between “there is” (singular) and “there are” (plural)
- Form negative statements and questions with these structures
- Understand when to use “there is/are” vs. “it is/they are”
- Apply these rules in real-life situations through practice exercises
✅ Affirmative Form: “There is” & “There are”
Use these to say that something exists in a place:
“There is” (singular)
For one thing or uncountable nouns:
🍎 There is an apple on the table.🐶 There is a dog in the park.🥛 There is milk in the fridge.
“There are” (plural)
For multiple things:
📚 There are books on the shelf.👫 There are two people outside.🌳 There are many trees in the forest.
💡 Tip: In spoken English, people often say “There’s” even for plural nouns (e.g., “There’s three cats!”), but in formal writing, always use the correct form (“There are three cats”).
❌ Negative Form: “There isn’t” & “There aren’t”
Use these to say that something doesn’t exist in a place:
“There isn’t” (singular)
🚗 There isn’t a car in the garage.✏️ There isn’t a pencil on my desk.🍕 There isn’t any pizza left.
“There aren’t” (plural)
🐱 There aren’t any cats here.🏀 There aren’t basketballs in the gym.👟 There aren’t many shoes in the closet.
Note: We often use “any” with plural negatives (There aren’t any…).
❓ Questions: “Is there…?” & “Are there…?”
Ask about things in a place with these yes/no questions:
“Is there…?” (singular)
🏠 Is there a bathroom in this house? → Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.⭐ Is there a star in the sky? → Yes, there is!💧 Is there any water in the bottle? → No, there isn’t.
“Are there…?” (plural)
🌳 Are there trees in the park? → Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.🍕 Are there pizzas in the fridge? → No, there aren’t!👶 Are there any children in the class? → Yes, there are five.
🆚 “There is/are” vs. “It is/They are”
Many learners confuse these structures. Here’s the key difference:
| “There is / There are” | “It is / They are” |
|---|---|
| Introduces something new (first mention) | Refers to something already known |
| “There is a cat outside.” (We didn’t know before!) | “It is black.” (Now we’re describing the cat) |
| “There are many books.” (New information) | “They are interesting.” (Describing the books) |
More Examples:
🐦 There is a bird. → It is singing.👟 There are shoes. → They are dirty.🌧️ There is rain. → It is heavy.👫 There are people. → They are happy.
📝 Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these interactive exercises (opens in new tab):