Overview
'There is' (singular) and 'there are' (plural) are used to introduce the existence of people or things. They are not true subjects — the real subject follows the verb. Example: There is a book on the table. There are two students in the room.
There is / There are
- singularThere is a café on the corner.
- pluralThere are three parks nearby.
- questionIs there a bank near here? / Are there any seats?
- negativeThere isn't any milk. / There aren't any chairs.
With some / any
- Positive: There is some milk in the fridge.
- Negative: There isn't any sugar left.
- Question: Is there any coffee?
- There are some books on the shelf.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ There is two cats. → ✅ There are two cats.
- ❌ Are there a bus stop? → ✅ Is there a bus stop?
- ❌ There are not enough time. → ✅ There is not enough time.
When to use
Describing places
There is a park near my house.
Things in places
There are some apples in the bag.
Asking questions
Is there a hospital nearby?
Giving directions
There is a café on the left.