There Is and There Are

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A135–45 minutes on your own60 minutes with a tutor

There Is and There Are

By the end: I can say what is in a room or neighbourhood.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Start here

Think of a room. Name one thing in it.

Read each explanation, say your answer aloud, then open the model and try again. You may write your answer if you prefer. Use invented personal details whenever you like.

Useful preparation: Be statements/questions; singular and plural nouns. Place words in/on/near are supported in examples.

Choose a play button when you are ready.

Learn 1

Say what is there

Use there is with one thing and there are with more than one. These forms introduce something in a place. There is a desk. There are two chairs. There’s is a short form of there is.

There’s a lamp on the desk.

There are two chairs in the room.

Count what is in the room

One tableThere is a table.

There’s is the contracted form of there is.

Four chairsThere are four chairs.

Use are for the plural chairs.

The plan shows one table and four chairs. It focuses on the positive statements in the recording.
Learn 2
Preserved lesson scene for There's a lamp on the desk. People and essential props isolated on white.
There’s a lamp on the desk.There’s introduces one lamp; on locates it on the desk.

Say what is not there

Use there isn’t a with one thing. Use there aren’t any with plural things. There aren’t any chairs means there are zero chairs. Keep a/an with one countable noun.

There isn’t a TV.

There aren’t any books on the shelf.

Keep absence and quantity separate

More than one presentThere are two chairs.

Two chairs are present.

None presentThere aren’t any chairs.

No chairs are present. Keep any with the plural noun in this negative pattern.

Learn 3

Ask and answer

Put is or are first: Is there a café? Are there any shops? Short answers keep there: Yes, there is. No, there aren’t. Use any in ordinary plural questions in this lesson.

Is there a café near here?

Are there any shops?

There stays in the short answer

Question
Istherea cafénear here?
Short answerYes, there is.

Keep there and the correct form of be. A negative answer is “No, there isn’t.”

Guided practice

Try each answer first. Check it, or open a model and its explanation.

Try the form

Compare an answer and explanation

is

One table takes is.

Compare an answer and explanation

are

Three chairs take are.

Compare an answer and explanation

a

Use a with one countable lamp.

Compare an answer and explanation

any

Use any in this negative plural sentence.

Build or change a sentence

Compare an answer and explanation

Is there a park?

Put is first.

Compare an answer and explanation

Are there any books?

Use are there any in this question.

Compare an answer and explanation

Yes, there is.

Keep there in the short answer.

Compare an answer and explanation

There are two cafés.

Two cafés are plural.

Listen to a short conversation

Listen. Then open the words and read aloud. Try one part with a partner, or say both parts on your own.

Open the conversation transcript

A: Is there a café near here?

B: Yes, there is. It’s next to the library.

A: Are there any shops?

B: No, there aren’t.

Listening checks

Read the question, play its recording, then choose an answer. You can open the transcript whenever you need it.

Listening 1

1. What is not in the room?
Read the transcript

There’s a table in the room. There are four chairs. There isn’t a TV.

Listening 2

2. How many cafés are there?
Read the transcript

There are two cafés near my home, but there aren’t any shops.

Listening 3

3. Which statement is true?
Read the transcript

Is there a park near here? Yes, there is. Are there any buses? No, there aren’t.

Preserved lesson scene for There aren't any books. People and essential props isolated on white.
There aren’t any books.Aren’t any expresses absence. The shelf and room contain no books.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. Aim for 7 out of 8, then correct anything you missed.

1. There ___ a book on the desk.
2. There ___ two windows.
3. There isn’t ___ chair here.
4. There aren’t ___ cafés near here.
5. Make a standard yes/no question: There is a library.
6. Are there any shops? Answer yes.
7. Is there a TV? Answer no.
8. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer key with explanations

  1. is One book takes is.

  2. are Two windows are plural.

  3. a One countable chair takes a.

  4. any Use any in this negative plural pattern.

  5. Is there a library? Put is before there.

  6. Yes, there are. Keep there and are.

  7. No, there isn’t. Use there isn’t for one TV.

  8. There are three rooms. Three rooms take are.

This quiz checks this lesson, not your overall English level.

Make it yours

Speak first, compare a model, then say a new version. These tasks are ungraded.

Speaking task 1

Describe a room with three things in it. Use both there is and there are.

Compare a possible response

There is a desk. There are two chairs. There is a lamp.

Success check: Match is/are to the number of things.

This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.

Speaking task 2

Describe two things that are not in your room. One must be plural.

Compare a possible response

There isn’t a TV. There aren’t any books.

Success check: Use a with singular and any with plural.

This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.

Speaking task 3

Ask about an invented neighbourhood. Include a café and shops. Answer both questions.

Compare a possible response

Is there a café? Yes, there is. Are there any shops? No, there aren’t.

Success check: Keep there in short answers.

This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.

Recap

Listen and repeat. There’s a lamp on the desk. There isn’t a TV. Is there a café near here?

I can say what is in a room or neighbourhood.

  • I can use the main pattern.
  • I can make one sentence of my own.
  • I know one thing to practise again.

Keep building your grammar

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