There Is and There Are

Introduction

In English, we use there is and there are to say that something exists or is present in a place. These phrases are very common in both spoken and written English.

Basic Rules

• Use there is with singular nouns or uncountable nouns.
• Use there are with plural nouns.

Examples:

• There is a book on the table.
• There is some water in the bottle.
• There are three apples in the basket.
• There are many students in the classroom.

Negative and Questions

Negative forms:

• There is not (isn't) a cat here.
• There are not (aren't) any chairs in the room.

Questions:

• Is there a bank near here?
• Are there any cookies left?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Don’t use there is with plural nouns: ❌ “There is two dogs.” → ✅ “There are two dogs.”
2. Don’t forget the verb: ❌ “There a pen on the desk.” → ✅ “There is a pen on the desk.”
3. Use “any” in questions and negatives with plural/uncountable nouns: “Are there any questions?”