There is / There are

1. Forms of “There is/There are”

We use “there is” for singular nouns and “there are” for plural nouns. These structures are used in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms.

A. Affirmative Form

Structure: There is + singular noun / There are + plural noun

Examples:

1. There is a cat on the roof.
2. There are two cars in the garage.
3. There is a book on the table.
4. There are five apples in the basket.
5. There is a beautiful garden behind the house.
6. There are three computers in the classroom.
7. There is a television in the living room.
8. There are several chairs around the dining table.
9. There is a big tree in the park.
10. There are many stars in the sky tonight.

B. Negative Form

Structure: There is not (isn’t) + singular noun / There are not (aren’t) + plural noun

Examples:

1. There is not a cat on the roof. (There isn’t a cat on the roof.)
2. There are not any cars in the garage. (There aren’t any cars in the garage.)
3. There is no book on the table.
4. There are no apples in the basket.
5. There isn’t a garden behind the house.
6. There are no computers in the classroom.
7. There isn’t a television in the living room.
8. There aren’t any chairs around the dining table.
9. There is no tree in the park.
10. There aren’t any stars in the sky tonight.

C. Interrogative Form

Structure: Is there + singular noun? / Are there + plural noun?

Examples:

1. Is there a cat on the roof?
2. Are there two cars in the garage?
3. Is there a book on the table?
4. Are there any apples in the basket?
5. Is there a garden behind the house?
6. Are there three computers in the classroom?
7. Is there a television in the living room?
8. Are there any chairs around the dining table?
9. Is there a big tree in the park?
10. Are there many stars in the sky tonight?

2. Usages of “There is/There are”

The “there is/there are” structure is used to introduce or mention the existence and location of people, objects, or events. Here are some common contexts:

A. Describing a Room or Place

1. There is a sofa in the living room.
2. There are several paintings on the wall.
3. There is a bookshelf in the study.
4. There are many lights in the hallway.
5. There is a red door at the entrance.
6. There are two beds in the guest room.
7. There is a dining table in the kitchen.
8. There are big trees in the backyard.
9. There is a TV in the family room.
10. There are computers in the school lab.

B. Introducing People or Animals

1. There is a student waiting outside.
2. There are two teachers in the staff room.
3. There is a dog in the park.
4. There are three cats in the neighborhood.
5. There is a baby in the crib.
6. There are several children playing in the yard.
7. There is an old man sitting on the bench.
8. There is a woman reading a book in the cafe.
9. There are many friends at the party.
10. There are several family members at the reunion.

C. Talking About Quantities and Numbers

1. There is one apple on the table.
2. There are five apples in the basket.
3. There is a car in the driveway.
4. There are three taxis waiting outside.
5. There are ten students in the class.
6. There are several boxes in the attic.
7. There are four chairs around the table.
8. There are many books on the shelf.
9. There are lots of balloons at the party.
10. There are numerous ideas in the meeting.

D. Describing Events or Situations

1. There is a celebration at the school today.
2. There are many meetings scheduled for this week.
3. There is a movie screening at the cinema tonight.
4. There are several soccer matches this season.
5. There is a concert in the park tomorrow.
6. There are awards being given at the ceremony.
7. There is a film festival in the city this weekend.
8. There are several plays being performed at the theater.
9. There is a beach party on Saturday.
10. There are many announcements at the conference.

3. Common Mistakes and Tips

• Remember to use “there is” for singular nouns and “there are” for plural nouns.
• Do not invert the order: always begin with “there is/there are” rather than the noun.
• Use the negative form correctly: “there isn’t” or “there aren’t” instead of “there is not” in casual speech.
• When asking a question, invert the subject and “is/are”: “Is there…?” or “Are there…?”
• Practice by writing and saying sentences about your environment to reinforce the structure.