There is / There are

We use there is and there are to say that something exists or is in a place. The choice is simple: there is for one thing (singular) or an uncountable noun, and there are for more than one (plural). The verb agrees with the noun that comes after it.

Singular vs plural

Look at the noun right after the verb. One thing → there is. Two or more → there are.

Uncountable nouns → there is

Uncountable nouns (water, milk, time, traffic) have no plural, so they take there is.

Negatives and questions

Add not for negatives and invert for questions. With negatives and questions we usually use any for plural and uncountable nouns.

Short answers keep the verb: Is there a café near here? — Yes, there is. / No, there isn't.

There is vs it is

Use there is to say something exists. Use it is to describe or identify a thing you've already introduced.

Common mistakes

Wrong agreement. The verb matches the noun after it.

Using "it has" to mean "exists". To introduce that something is there, English uses there is, not it has.

"There is" with a plural list. With a list, the verb usually agrees with the first item, so a plural first noun takes there are: There are two chairs and a table — though There's a table and two chairs is fine because table comes first.

Quick exercise

Fill in is, are, isn't or aren't.

1. There ___ a cat on the sofa.
2. There ___ three eggs in the fridge.
3. ___ there any milk?
4. There ___ a lot of people here.
5. There ___ some water in the bottle.
6. There ___ any chairs left — they're all taken.