There + be: 'There is' And 'There are'

Look at the picture of a livingroom. We can describe the existence of things in the room by using "there is" and/or "there are". The examples below talk about the existence or presence of things in the livingroom by using "there is" and "there are". Pay attention to them.

• There is a window in the livingroom.
• There is a sofa next to the window.
• There is an orange carpet on the floor.
• There is a standing lamp next to the sofa.
• There is a wooden shelf beside the window.
• There are some books and a photograph on the shelf.

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A. "There + be" Structure and Example Sentences

I. Countable Nouns

1. Singular Nouns:+: There is (There's) + singular noun
?: Is there + singular noun?
-: There is not (There isn't) + singular nounExample sentences:

• There is (There's) a windchime hanging from the roof.
• There is (There's) a book on that shelf.
• There is (There's) a car in the garage.
• There is (There's) the book you're looking for.
• A: Is there a book in the bag?
  B: Yes, there is. / No, there isn't.

2, Plural Nouns+: There are + plural noun
?: Are there + plural noun?
-: There are not (There aren't) + plural nounExample sentences:

• There are big trees in the garden.
• There aren't many books on that shelf.
• There are three cars in the garage.
• There are the books you're looking for.
• A: Are there many books on that shelf?
  B: Yes, there are. / No, there aren't.
• A: How many teachers are there in your school?
  B: There are fifty.

II. Uncountable Nouns

+: There is (There's) + uncountable noun
?: Is there + uncountable noun?
-: There is not (There isn't) + uncountable nounExample sentences:

• There is (There's) some money in the drawer.
• There is some tea on the table.
• There is some ice in the fridge.
• There is not (There isn't) any money in the wallet.
• We can't go skiing. There is not (There isn't) any snow.

Note: "Some" is usually used with positive and interrogative sentences, while "any" is used with interrogative and negative sentences. To learn the difference between "some" and "any", read Some VS Any: What's The Difference?.

B. Example Dialogue

Practice the following dialogue. Pay attention to the italicized words.
Lisa and Mia are planning to spend the day at the park. As they chat about their plans, they discuss the features of the park and the fun activities they can do together. Mia describes the sunny weather and the different places to visit, making Lisa even more excited to go.

Lisa: "Hi, Mia! Is it a nice day to go to the park?"

Mia: "Yes, there is a lot of sunshine today!"

Lisa: "That sounds great. Is there a playground in the park?"

Mia: "Yes, there is a playground near the entrance. It’s very fun!?"

Lisa: "Awesome! Is there a place to sit and relax?"

Mia: "Definitely! There are benches all around the park."

Lisa: "Perfect! I can’t wait to visit. Is there anything else to do there?"

Mia: "Yes, there is a small pond where you can feed the ducks."

Continue to Exercise Page

C. EXERCISE

I. Write sentences with "There is" or "There are" using the provided nouns. Look at the example.
Example:a cup - the table.
Answer: There is a cup on the table.
Now let's start. Don't forget to add a full stop (.) at the end of each sentence.

1. a book - the shelf.
   
2. a lot of cars - the parking lot
   
3. so many ants - on the table
   
4. some tea - the table
   
5. some ice - the fridge
   
6. a computer - the room
   
7. few good restaurants - my town
   
8. some money - my pocket
   
9. a big lamp - the center of the room
   
10. a lot of English dictionaries - our library
    

II. Complete these sentences using 'there is,' 'there are,' 'there isn't,' 'there aren't,' 'is there,' or 'are there.'
Example: The house looks green. ... a beautiful garden in front of it.
Answer: The house looks green. There is a beautiful garden in front of it.

1. The fridge is empty. any food in it.
2. Surabaya is a big city. many good hotels there.
3. more than 17,500 islands in Indonesian archipelago.
4. I like shopping here. a wide variety of products to choose from.
5. The park is not crowded. many visitors on that day.
6. I don't think we need to eat out. enough rice for dinner.
7. a new building next to the parking lot. It is the school auditorium.
8. an ATM near here? I need to draw some money.
9. komodo dragons in the zoo?
10. How many printers in the office?

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III. Let's play a "Horse Race" game. Answer each question as quickly as possible. You may play it in full-screen mode if necessary.

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Updated: Jan 16, 2025 for interactivity, readability, and originality.
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