By Vahid Alaghehband
Use there is (there's) with a singular or uncountable noun and there are with a plural noun: There is a bank. There are two banks. For questions, swap the order: Is there…? Are there…?
When do you use there is and there are?
It depends on the noun that follows: singular or uncountable (a car, some water, a lot of traffic) takes there is; plural (two cars, many people) takes there are.
| Form | Singular or uncountable | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | There is a bank. / There's some water. | There are two banks. |
| Negative | There isn't a bank. / There isn't any water. | There aren't any banks. |
| Question | Is there a bank near here? | Are there any banks near here? |
| Short answer | Yes, there is. / No, there isn't. | Yes, there are. / No, there aren't. |
In the past: there was and there were
Use there was with singular or uncountable nouns and there were with plurals: There was a lot of traffic. There were many people. See was or were.
Common mistakes
- There is two cars ✗ → There are two cars ✓.
- Have a bank near here? ✗ → Is there a bank near here? ✓.
- There are a lot of traffic ✗ → There is a lot of traffic ✓ (traffic is uncountable).
- There isn't some milk ✗ → There isn't any milk ✓.
Exercises with answers
- ___ a park near my house.
- ___ two banks on this street.
- ___ any milk in the fridge?
- There ___ (not) many people at the beach today.
- ___ there a pharmacy near here?
- There ___ some water on the floor.
Answers: 1. There's / There is · 2. There are · 3. Is there · 4. aren't · 5. Is · 6. is.
Practice there is and there are by speaking
With Vozi Grammar you practice grammar by level, with explanations, examples and conversation by voice or text, and you get corrections of your grammar mistakes at the end.
Explore Vozi Grammar →Read next: the verb to be with 30 sentences and in, on, at for place.
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Frequently asked questions
When do you use there is and there are?
There is with a singular or uncountable noun (there is a car, there is some water) and there are with a plural noun (there are two cars).
How do you ask with there is and there are?
Is there…? for singular or uncountable and Are there…? for plural: Is there a pharmacy near here? Are there any buses?
What is the past of there is and there are?
There was (singular or uncountable) and there were (plural).
Some or any with there is and there are?
Some in positive sentences (there are some apples) and any in negatives and questions (there aren't any apples, are there any apples?).
