There Is vs. There Are: Mastering Existence in English
Understanding when to use “there is” and “there are” is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. These phrases, known as existential “there,” are used to indicate the existence or presence of something. Mastering their correct usage is crucial for clear and accurate communication, whether you’re writing an email, giving a presentation, or simply engaging in everyday conversation. This article provides a comprehensive guide to “there is” and “there are,” covering their definitions, structures, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. It is designed for English learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers, who want to solidify their understanding of this essential grammatical concept.
Table of Contents
- Definition of “There Is” and “There Are”
- Structural Breakdown
- Usage Rules
- Examples
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Definition of “There Is” and “There Are”
“There is” and “there are” are phrases used to indicate the existence or presence of something. They are often referred to as existential there because they introduce the existence of a noun. Unlike the adverb there (referring to a place), the there in “there is/are” does not have a locative meaning. It’s simply a grammatical tool to allow us to place the verb “to be” before the subject.
The choice between “there is” and “there are” depends on the number (singular or plural) and countability of the noun that follows. “There is” is used with singular and uncountable nouns, while “there are” is used with plural nouns. Understanding this distinction is key to using these phrases correctly.
The function of “there is/are” is primarily to introduce new information or to draw attention to the existence of something. It’s a common construction in English, appearing frequently in both spoken and written language. Consider these examples:
- There is a cat on the roof. (Singular, countable noun)
- There are many books on the shelf. (Plural, countable noun)
- There is some milk in the fridge. (Uncountable noun)
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of sentences using “there is” and “there are” is as follows:
There + is/are + (a/an/some/any/number) + noun + (optional modifiers)
Let’s break down each component:
- There: This is the introductory word and does not refer to a location.
- Is/Are: This is the verb “to be,” conjugated to agree with the noun that follows. “Is” is used for singular and uncountable nouns; “are” is used for plural nouns.
- (a/an/some/any/number): These are articles or quantifiers. “A” and “an” are used with singular, countable nouns. “Some” and “any” can be used with both uncountable and plural nouns. A specific number can be used with plural nouns.
- Noun: This is the subject of the sentence, indicating what exists.
- (Optional Modifiers): These can include prepositional phrases, adjectives, or clauses that provide additional information about the noun.
Here are some examples illustrating the structure:
- There is a bird in the tree.
- There are some apples on the table.
- There is a lot of water in the bottle.
In questions, the structure is slightly different:
Is/Are + there + (a/an/some/any/number) + noun + (optional modifiers)?
Examples of questions:
- Is there a post office nearby?
- Are there any tickets left?
Usage Rules
Here’s a comprehensive look at the rules governing the use of “there is” and “there are”:
- Singular Nouns: Use “there is” when referring to a single, countable noun.
- Example: There is a book on the desk.
- Plural Nouns: Use “there are” when referring to multiple countable nouns.
- Example: There are three chairs in the room.
- Uncountable Nouns: Use “there is” when referring to uncountable nouns. Uncountable nouns are things that cannot be counted individually (e.g., water, information, advice).
- Example: There is some water in the glass.
- Compound Subjects: When you have a compound subject (two or more nouns joined by “and”), the choice between “there is” and “there are” depends on whether the nouns are considered a single unit or separate entities.
- If they are a single unit, use “there is.” Example: There is bacon and eggs for breakfast. (Here, “bacon and eggs” is considered a single dish.)
- If they are separate entities, use “there are.” Example: There are a pen and a notebook on the table.
- Quantifiers: Use quantifiers like “some,” “any,” “a lot of,” “plenty of,” etc., to indicate quantity. The verb (“is” or “are”) should agree with the noun that follows the quantifier.
- Example: There is some milk in the fridge.
- Example: There are some apples in the basket.
- “There’s” Contraction: “There’s” is a contraction of “there is.” It is generally used with singular nouns or uncountable nouns. While grammatically incorrect in formal writing with plural nouns, it is sometimes used colloquially.
- Correct: There’s a problem.
- Correct: There’s some confusion.
- Informal: There’s many people here. (More formal: There are many people here.)
- Proximity Agreement: In some cases, particularly with compound subjects, the verb may agree with the noun closest to it. However, this is often considered less formal.
- Less Formal: There is a book and some pens on the desk. (More formal: There are a book and some pens on the desk.)
Examples
The following tables provide extensive examples of “there is” and “there are” used in various contexts. The examples are categorized by noun type to illustrate the correct usage in different situations.
Singular Nouns
This table demonstrates the use of “there is” with singular, countable nouns. Each sentence highlights the existence of a single item or entity.
| Sentence |
|---|
| There is a cat sleeping on the sofa. |
| There is an apple on the kitchen counter. |
| There is a bird singing outside my window. |
| There is a car parked in front of the house. |
| There is a cloud in the sky. |
| There is a fly buzzing around the room. |
| There is a key on the table. |
| There is a lamp in the corner. |
| There is a letter for you. |
| There is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. |
| There is a problem with the computer. |
| There is a restaurant nearby. |
| There is a school across the street. |
| There is a train leaving in five minutes. |
| There is a university in this city. |
| There is a vase of flowers on the shelf. |
| There is a website I want to show you. |
| There is a zoo on the outskirts of town. |
| There is a new episode of the show tonight. |
| There is a mistake in this document. |
| There is a sale at the department store. |
| There is a concert next weekend. |
| There is a good reason to be optimistic. |
| There is a possibility of rain tomorrow. |
Plural Nouns
This table illustrates the use of “there are” with plural, countable nouns. Each sentence indicates the existence of multiple items or entities.
| Sentence |
|---|
| There are many students in the classroom. |
| There are several books on the shelf. |
| There are a few apples in the basket. |
| There are two cars parked outside. |
| There are some clouds in the sky. |
| There are lots of flies buzzing around the picnic. |
| There are no keys on the table. |
| There are three lamps in the living room. |
| There are numerous letters to be mailed. |
| There are several meetings scheduled for this week. |
| There are some problems with the software. |
| There are many restaurants to choose from. |
| There are several schools in this district. |
| There are two trains arriving at the same time. |
| There are several universities in this state. |
| There are two vases of flowers on the table. |
| There are many websites to explore on the internet. |
| There are several zoos located nearby. |
| There are new episodes of the show every week. |
| There are several mistakes in this report. |
| There are sales at multiple stores downtown. |
| There are concerts happening every weekend. |
| There are good reasons to be hopeful. |
| There are possibilities for growth in this industry. |
| There are a few things I need to tell you. |
| There are people waiting in line. |
| There are birds flying overhead. |
Uncountable Nouns
This table provides examples of “there is” used with uncountable nouns. Uncountable nouns represent things that cannot be counted as individual units.
| Sentence |
|---|
| There is some water in the bottle. |
| There is a lot of milk in the carton. |
| There is some sugar in my coffee. |
| There is a little salt in the soup. |
| There is too much traffic on the road. |
| There is some furniture in the room. |
| There is a lot of information online. |
| There is some advice I’d like to give you. |
| There is a great deal of happiness in my life. |
| There is some progress being made on the project. |
| There is a little bit of hope left. |
| There is some evidence to support the claim. |
| There is a lot of pollution in the city. |
| There is some snow on the ground. |
| There is a lot of wind today. |
| There is some rice in the pantry. |
| There is some meat in the refrigerator. |
| There is a lot of energy in the atmosphere. |
| There is some truth to what he said. |
| There is a lot of beauty in nature. |
| There is some cheese in the fridge. |
| There is a lot of unemployment in the country. |
| There is some bread in the oven. |
| There is some confusion about the schedule. |
| There is some concern about the new policy. |
| There is some music playing in the background. |
Compound Subjects
This table demonstrates the use of “there is” and “there are” with compound subjects. Note how the choice of verb depends on whether the subjects are viewed as a single unit or separate entities.
| Sentence |
|---|
| There is a pen and a notebook on the desk. (Separate entities, less formal) |
| There are a pen and a notebook on the desk. (Separate entities, more formal) |
| There is macaroni and cheese for dinner. (Single dish) |
| There are apples and oranges in the fruit bowl. (Separate entities) |
| There is coffee and donuts for the meeting. (Single offering) |
| There are chairs and tables in the classroom. (Separate entities) |
| There is a fork and knife on the table. (Separate entities, less formal) |
| There are a fork and a knife on the table. (Separate entities, more formal) |
| There is peanut butter and jelly in the sandwich. (Single filling) |
| There are books and magazines on the coffee table. (Separate entities) |
| There is ham and eggs for breakfast. (Single dish) |
| There are cats and dogs in the animal shelter. (Separate entities) |
| There is a bed and a dresser in the bedroom. (Separate entities, less formal) |
| There are a bed and a dresser in the bedroom. (Separate entities, more formal) |
| There is salt and pepper on the table. (Single condiment set) |
| There are students and teachers in the auditorium. (Separate entities) |
| There is bread and butter on the table. (Single offering) |
| There are cars and trucks on the highway. (Separate entities) |
| There is a computer and a printer in the office. (Separate entities, less formal) |
| There are a computer and a printer in the office. (Separate entities, more formal) |
Questions
This table shows how to form questions using “is there” and “are there.” The structure involves inverting the verb and “there.”
| Sentence |
|---|
| Is there a problem? |
| Are there any questions? |
| Is there any milk left? |
| Are there any tickets available? |
| Is there a doctor in the house? |
| Are there any cookies in the jar? |
| Is there a bus stop nearby? |
| Are there any good movies playing? |
| Is there any sugar in the tea? |
| Are there any flights delayed? |
| Is there a store open late? |
| Are there any discounts available? |
| Is there any news on the project? |
| Are there any updates on the situation? |
| Is there a map of the city? |
| Are there any tours available? |
| Is there any coffee ready? |
| Are there any vegetarian options? |
| Is there a gas station around here? |
| Are there any seats left? |
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes is using “there is” with plural nouns or “there are” with singular nouns. This often stems from not paying close attention to the noun that follows “there is/are.”
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| There is many people at the party. | There are many people at the party. | “People” is plural, so “there are” is needed. |
| There are a book on the table. | There is a book on the table. | “Book” is singular, so “there is” is needed. |
| There are some water in the glass. | There is some water in the glass. | “Water” is uncountable, so “there is” is needed. |
| There’s many reasons to be happy. | There are many reasons to be happy. | “Reasons” is plural, so “there are” is needed. Using “There’s” is informal in this context. |
| Is there any problems? | Are there any problems? | “Problems” is plural, so “are there” is needed. |
| There is three cats. | There are three cats. | “Cats” is plural, so “there are” is needed. |
| There are a information available online. | There is information available online. | “Information” is uncountable, so “there is” is needed, and the article “a” cannot be used. |
Practice Exercises
These exercises will help you practice using “there is” and “there are” correctly. Each exercise focuses on a different aspect of the grammar point, from filling in blanks to correcting errors and constructing sentences.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with “is” or “are” to complete the following sentences.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. There ______ a dog barking outside. | is |
| 2. There ______ some apples on the tree. | are |
| 3. There ______ a lot of traffic today. | is |
| 4. There ______ several reasons to be optimistic. | are |
| 5. There ______ a new restaurant in town. | is |
| 6. There ______ some milk in the fridge. | is |
| 7. There ______ many stars in the sky. | are |
| 8. There ______ a problem with the car. | is |
| 9. There ______ some interesting books on the shelf. | are |
| 10. There ______ a cat sleeping on the mat. | is |
Exercise 2: Error Correction
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
| Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1. There is many students in the library. | There are many students in the library. |
| 2. There are a cat sleeping on the bed. | There is a cat sleeping on the bed. |
| 3. There are some water in the bottle. | There is some water in the bottle. |
| 4. There is three chairs in the room. | There are three chairs in the room. |
| 5. There’s many people waiting in line. | There are many people waiting in line. |
| 6. There are a lot of fun. | There is a lot of fun. |
| 7. There is some problems with my computer. | There are some problems with my computer. |
| 8. There are a good reason to study hard. | There is a good reason to study hard. |
| 9. There is several options available. | There are several options available. |
| 10. Is there any cookies left? | Are there any cookies left? |
Exercise 3: Sentence Construction
Construct sentences using “there is” or “there are” based on the given prompts.
| Prompt | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1. (book / on the table) | There is a book on the table. |
| 2. (trees / in the park) | There are many trees in the park. |
| 3. (water / in the lake) | There is a lot of water in the lake. |
| 4. (people / at the concert) | There are many people at the concert. |
| 5. (problem / with the system) | There is a problem with the system. |
| 6. (chairs / in the office) | There are several chairs in the office. |
| 7. (milk / in the glass) | There is some milk in the glass. |
| 8. (birds / in the sky) | There are some birds in the sky. |
| 9. (reason / to be happy) | There is a good reason to be happy. |
| 10. (questions / to ask) | There are a few questions to ask. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, understanding the nuances of “there is/are” in more complex sentence structures and rhetorical contexts is essential. This section delves into more intricate aspects of this grammatical construction.
Impersonal “There”
The use of “there” as an impersonal pronoun is not limited to indicating existence. It can also be used in expressions of time, distance, and weather. In these cases, “there” is often followed by a form of the verb “to be” and an adjective or adverbial phrase. This construction provides a way to express general conditions or states without referring to a specific subject.
Examples:
- There is hot. (Referring to the weather)
- There is far to go. (Referring to distance)
- There is late. (Referring to time)
These sentences don’t literally state that something exists, but rather they express a condition or state of being in an impersonal way. The “there” acts as a placeholder, allowing the focus to remain on the descriptive adjective or adverbial phrase. Although these phrases are less common in modern English, understanding their structure is important for comprehending older texts and idiomatic expressions.
Existential “There” and Emphasis
While “there is/are” typically introduces new information, it can also be used for emphasis or to create a specific rhetorical effect. By placing “there is/are” at the beginning of a sentence, the speaker or writer can draw attention to the existence of something that might otherwise be overlooked or downplayed.
Consider these examples:
- There is a subtle difference between these two options. (Emphasizing the existence of even a small difference)
- There are several factors that contributed to this decision. (Highlighting the multiplicity of contributing elements)
In these cases, the choice to use “there is/are” is not simply a matter of grammatical correctness but also a deliberate stylistic choice. It allows the speaker or writer to control the flow of information and to emphasize the aspects of the situation that they deem most important. This ability to use “there is/are” for emphasis is a hallmark of advanced English proficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This section addresses common questions that English learners often have about “there is” and “there are.”
- Q: When should I use “there is” versus “there are”?
A: Use “there is” with singular and uncountable nouns. Use “there are” with plural nouns. The verb must agree with the noun that follows it.
- Q: Can I use “there’s” with plural nouns?
A: “There’s” is a contraction of “there is” and is generally used with singular or uncountable nouns. Using it with plural nouns is considered informal and grammatically incorrect in formal writing.
- Q: What if I have a compound subject?
A: If the nouns are considered a single unit, use “there is.” If they are separate entities, use “there are.” For example, “There is bacon and eggs for breakfast” (single dish) vs. “There are a pen and a notebook on the table” (separate items).
- Q: How do I form questions with “there is/are”?
A: Invert the verb and “there.” For example, “Is there a post office nearby?” or “Are there any tickets left?”
- Q: What are uncountable nouns?
A: Uncountable nouns are things that cannot be counted as individual units, such as water, information, advice, and furniture. They always take a singular verb form.
- Q: Is it ever correct to say “There is” followed by a plural noun?
A: While less formal and often considered incorrect, “There is” can sometimes be used when the speaker intends to emphasize the existence of something, even if it’s plural. You might also hear it due to proximity agreement with the first noun in a compound subject, but “There are” is generally more grammatically sound.
- Q: Can “there” be used in other ways besides indicating existence?
A: Yes, “there” can also be used as an adverb of place (e.g., “The book is over there”) or as an impersonal pronoun in expressions of time, distance, and weather (e.g., “There is hot today”).
- Q: How can I improve my usage of “there is/are”?
A: Practice regularly by constructing your own sentences, paying close attention to the number and countability of the nouns you use. Also, read and listen to English content to observe how native speakers use these phrases in different contexts.
Conclusion
Mastering the correct usage of “there is” and “there are” is crucial for clear and accurate communication in English. This article has provided a comprehensive overview of this essential grammatical concept, covering its definition, structure, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. By understanding the distinction between singular, plural, and uncountable nouns, and by practicing regularly, you can confidently use “there is” and “there are” in your everyday speech and writing.
Remember to pay close attention to the noun that follows “there is/are” and ensure that the verb agrees in number. Practice constructing your own sentences and identifying errors in existing sentences. With consistent effort, you can master this fundamental aspect of English grammar and improve your overall language proficiency. Keep practicing, and you’ll find that using “there is” and “there are” becomes second nature!
