Lesson

There is, there are

Express existence and location

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

What are 'There is' and 'There are'?

'There is' and 'There are' are used to say that something exists or is present. Use them to talk about the existence or presence of people, things, or situations.

'There is' + singular noun or uncountable noun (present)
'There are' + plural noun (present)
Use them in positive sentences, negatives, and questions (e.g., 'Is there...?', 'Are there...?')

Think: singular → there is; plural → there are

Table

There is / There are — Quick Reference

Structure	Use	Example
There is + singular noun	Existence of one thing/person	There is a printer in the office.
There is + uncountable noun	Existence of a non-countable item	There is coffee in the kettle.
There are + plural noun	Existence of several things/people	There are three reports on the desk.
Negative: There isn't / There aren't	Negation of existence	There aren't any chairs available.
Question: Is there...? / Are there...?	Ask about existence	Are there any updates on the project?

Tip

Key rule: subject-verb agreement

Match the verb to the noun that follows 'there':

'There is' + singular or uncountable noun: There is one laptop.
'There are' + plural noun: There are five laptops.
For questions: invert the verb and 'there': Is there a laptop? / Are there laptops?

If you can count the item and it's plural, use 'are'. Otherwise use 'is'.

Example

Examples in context

There is a printer in the office.

There are three reports on your desk.

Is there any coffee left in the kitchen?

There aren't enough chairs for the meeting.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners often make predictable errors with 'there is' / 'there are'.

Using 'there is' with plural nouns: Incorrect -> There is many emails. Correct -> There are many emails.
Using singular forms for plural subjects: The noun determines whether to use 'is' or 'are'.
Wrong question form: Avoid 'There is any coffee?' — use 'Is there any coffee?'
Confusion with 'some' and 'any': Use 'any' in most questions and negatives (Are there any issues?).

Check whether the noun is countable and singular or plural before choosing 'is' or 'are'.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Plural noun → 'are'

Quiz

Complete: _____ a printer in the office?

Hint: Singular countable → 'Is there'

Quiz

Choose the best answer: A colleague asks, 'Are there any updates on the project?'

Hint: Plural updates → 'there are'

Key Points

GrammarPoint

there is / there are

expression CEFR A2 //ðɛr ɪz/ /ðɛr ɑːr//

Phrases used to state the existence or presence of something.

There is a manager in the meeting room.

GrammarPoint

countable

adjective CEFR B1 //ˈkaʊntəbl̩//

A noun that can be counted (one, two, three...).

Report is a countable noun: There are several reports.

GrammarPoint

uncountable

adjective CEFR B1 //ʌnˈkaʊntəbl̩//

A noun that cannot be counted individually (e.g., coffee, information).

Coffee is uncountable: There is coffee in the kettle.

Vocabulary

any

determiner/adverb CEFR A2 //ˈɛni//

Used in questions and negatives to refer to an unspecified amount or number.

Are there any issues with the report?

Vocabulary

some

determiner/adverb CEFR A2 //sʌm//

Used in positive sentences and offers/requests to refer to an unspecified amount or number.

There are some documents you need to sign.

GrammarPoint

plural noun

noun CEFR A2 //ˈplʊrəl naʊn//

A noun that refers to more than one person or thing (usually ends in -s or -es).

There are five employees in the office.