📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Beginner (A1), week 6
We use 'there is' and 'there are' to say that something exists or is in a place. Use 'there is' for one thing and 'there are' for more than one.
The rules
Form
| One thing (singular) | More than one (plural) | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | There's a café near my house. | There are two bedrooms. |
| Negative | There isn't a lift. | There aren't any chairs. |
| Question | Is there a bank near here? | Are there any vegetarian dishes? |
Remember
- There's = there is. We usually use the short form in speaking.
- Use 'some' with plural positives and 'any' with plural negatives and questions.
- Short answers: Yes, there is. / No, there aren't.
- Use 'there is' with uncountable nouns: There's some milk in the fridge.
Listen and repeat
- Is there a toilet here, please?
- There are three bedrooms and one bathroom.
- There isn't any parking at the front.
- Are there any gluten-free options?
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| There's a park near here. | Use 'there is', not 'there have'. | |
| There are two cafés. | Plural → there are. | |
| Is there a bus stop? | Questions: Is there…? Are there…? |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use there is / are in English?
We use 'there is' and 'there are' to say that something exists or is in a place. Use 'there is' for one thing and 'there are' for more than one. There's = there is. We usually use the short form in speaking.
What are common mistakes with there is / are?
Say 'There's a park near here.', not 'There have a park near here.' (Use 'there is', not 'there have'). Say 'There are two cafés.', not 'There is two cafés.' (Plural → there are). Say 'Is there a bus stop?', not 'Have there a bus stop?' (Questions: Is there…? Are there…?).
What level is this there is / are lesson?
It's a Beginner (A1) lesson, week 6 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.