There Is / There Are

Hook

You are looking at a flat to rent. “Is there a washing machine?” “Are there any shops near here?” “There’s a big kitchen, but there isn’t a garden.” To say what exists in a place, English uses there is and there are.

Notice

  • There is a sofa in the living room.
  • There’s a small balcony.
  • There are three bedrooms in my house.
  • There isn’t a garden. There aren’t any pets.
  • Is there a lift? — Yes, there is.
  • Are there any shops near here? — No, there aren’t.

When do we use is, and when do we use are?

Rule

One thing (singular)More than one (plural)
PositiveThere is (There’s) a…There are two / some…
NegativeThere isn’t a…There aren’t any…
QuestionIs there a…?Are there any…?
Short answerYes, there is. / No, there isn’t.Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.
  • With a list, the verb agrees with the first item: There is a bed and two chairs.
  • Uncountable nouns use is: There is some milk. There isn’t any water.
  • How many rooms are there? — There are five.
  • There are has no short form in writing: not There’re.

Watch Out

  • ✗ It has a park near my house. → ✓ There is a park near my house.
  • ✗ There is two bathrooms. → ✓ There are two bathrooms.
  • ✗ Are there a garden? → ✓ Is there a garden?
  • ✗ There aren’t some chairs. → ✓ There aren’t any chairs. (any in negatives)

Practice

  1. ___ a bed in the bedroom.
  2. ___ two windows in the room.
  3. ___ a garden? (question)
  4. There ___ any chairs in the kitchen. (negative)
  5. Short answer: “Is there a TV?” (yes)
  6. Complete: “How many bedrooms ___ there?”
  7. Correct it: “There is three shops.”
  8. Complete: “There ___ some milk in the fridge.”
Show the answers
  1. There is / There’s
  2. There are
  3. Is there
  4. aren’t
  5. Yes, there is.
  6. are
  7. There are three shops.
  8. is

Your Turn

Write six sentences about your home or your street: three with there is/are, two negatives and one question you would ask about a flat to rent.

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CEFR A1 — Spoken Production: I can describe where I live in simple terms.

Azizul Hakim
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