There Is / There Are
I can say what is in a place using singular and plural nouns.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
A small room has one desk and two chairs. There is a lamp on the desk. There are two books beside it.
Read the situation transcript
A small room has one desk and two chairs. There is a lamp on the desk. There are two books beside it.
Why do we say is a lamp but are two books?
Compare your idea
A lamp is singular; two books is plural.
How it works
Use there is to introduce one thing and there are to introduce more than one. Put the place after the thing: There is a lamp on the desk.
For a negative, use there isn’t or there aren’t. For a question, change the order: Is there a lamp? Are there two chairs? There introduces what exists in the place.
There is + singular noun. There are + plural noun. Is/Are there…?
Notice this
There is a desk.
One desk is in the place.
Compare this
There are two chairs.
More than one chair is in the place.
Hear the examples
There is a desk.
One desk is in the place.
There are two chairs.
More than one chair is in the place.
There isn’t a television.
No television is in the place.
Are there any windows?
This asks about plural windows.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: There is two chairs.
Say: There are two chairs.
In the standard form practised here, a plural noun takes are.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Say one thing in your room.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
There is a table in my room.
Check yourself: Use a singular noun after there is.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Say two or more things in one place.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
There are three books on my desk.
Check yourself: Use are with the plural.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Ask about a kitchen in a flat.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Is there a kitchen?
Check yourself: Put is before there.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Complete: There ___ three cups.
Compare a model and explanation
There are three cups.
Three cups is plural.
Self-check 2
Make a question: There is a park nearby.
Compare a model and explanation
Is there a park nearby?
Move is before there.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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There ___ a lamp by the bed.
is: A lamp is singular.
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There ___ four chairs.
are: Four chairs is plural.
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___ there a kitchen?
Is: A kitchen is singular; the question begins Is there…?.
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Which sentence introduces something in a room?
There is a mirror.: There is introduces what is present.
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Choose the standard plural negative.
There aren’t any books.: Use aren’t before the plural books.
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Correct “Are there a window?”
Is there a window?: A window is singular, so use Is there…?.
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“There are two beds.” Which picture would fit?
A room with two beds: The sentence gives an exact number: two beds.
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What is on the table?
Two cups: The recording says there are two cups.
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Complete: There isn’t ___ desk.
a: A fits a singular countable noun after isn’t.
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What decides is or are in these examples?
One thing or more than one: The singular/plural distinction controls the standard form here.
Take it with you
I can say what is in a place using singular and plural nouns.