Existential 'There Is' and 'There Are'

Welcome to your guide on understanding and mastering the existential “There Is” and “There Are”! These fundamental English structures are crucial for expressing the existence of something, much like the verb “haber” in Spanish. This article will break down their usage, forms, and provide practical examples to help you use them confidently.

Understanding Existential "There Is" and "There Are"

To begin, “There is” and “There are” are used to indicate that something exists or is present. They are foundational phrases that you'll encounter constantly in English conversations and writing.

What Does "Existential There" Mean?

The term "existential there" refers to the use of "there" as a grammatical subject that introduces the existence of something. It's not referring to a place, but rather signaling that something is or exists. For example:

• There’s somebody at the door. (Hay alguien a la puerta).
• Are there any questions? (¿Hay alguna pregunta?).

Basic Usage: Affirmative Sentences with "There Is" and "There Are"

When you want to state that something exists, you use “there is” for singular nouns and uncountable nouns, and “there are” for plural nouns. Remember this key distinction for correct grammar.

Affirmative Examples:

• There is an apple on this tree. (Singular)
• There are books in his bag. (Plural)

Let's apply this to some examples from our study materials:

• There are five shops.
• There are a lot of restaurants.
• There is a building.
• There are some parks.
• There is a library.
• There is a bus station.
• There is a sports centre.

Asking Questions with "Is There" and "Are There"

To inquire about the existence of something, you simply invert the order of “there” and “is/are.” This creates the interrogative form.

Question Examples:

• Is there an apple on this tree? (Singular)
• Are there books in his bag? (Plural)

When forming questions about your city, for instance:

• Is there a shop in your city?
• Are there any parks in your city?

Forming Negative Sentences with "There Isn't" and "There Aren't"

To state that something does not exist, you add “not” after “is” or “are.” This forms “there isn’t” for singular/uncountable and “there aren’t” for plural.

Negative Examples:

• There isn’t an apple on this tree.
• There aren’t books in his bag.

Following our previous examples in the negative form:

• There aren’t five shops.
• There aren’t a lot of restaurants.
• There isn’t a building.
• There aren’t some parks.
• There isn’t a library.
• There isn’t a bus station.
• There isn’t a sports centre.

Common Contractions for "There Is" and "There Are"

Contractions are frequently used in spoken and informal written English. For “there is,” the common contraction is “there’s.” For negative forms, you have “there isn’t” and “there aren’t.”

• Affirmative Contraction: There’s (e.g., There’s somebody at the door.)
• Negative Contractions: There isn’t, There aren’t

Short Answers with Contractions:

• Yes, there is / Yes, there are
• No, there isn’t / No, there aren’t

Mastering "There Is" and "There Are": Practice Exercises

Let's reinforce your understanding with exercises similar to those often found in study materials. These will help you solidify your knowledge of "there is" and "there are" grammar rules.

Choosing the Correct Form of "There Is" or "There Are"

Selecting the correct form depends on whether the noun referring to existence is singular or plural. Pay close attention to the noun immediately following the existential phrase.

Choose the correct words:

1. There's a TV. (Singular)
2. There are four chairs in the living room. (Plural)
3. Is there a / Are there any windows in the kitchen? (Plural, so "Are there any")
4. Is there a teacher in the classroom? (Singular, so "Is there a")
5. There aren't any pencils on the table. (Plural, so "There aren't")
6. There isn't any milk in the fridge. (Uncountable, so "There isn't any")
7. Is there a bookcase? (Singular, so "Is there")

Completing Questions and Short Answers

Practice forming both the questions and providing short, accurate answers using the correct forms.

Complete the questions and short answers using the correct form of there is or there are:

1. Is there a tree in this park? No, there isn't.
2. Is there an internet café in your city? Yes, there is.
3. Are there any hospitals near here? No, there aren't.
4. Are there any buildings next to your school? Yes, there are.
5. Is there a shop in this street? No, there isn't.
6. Is there any cinema in your town? Yes, there is.
7. Are there any students in the school? No, there aren't.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about "There Is" and "There Are"

What is the main purpose of "there is" and "there are"?

"There is" and "there are" are primarily used to express the existence or presence of something. They introduce a noun that indicates what exists, functioning as an existential statement in English.

How do you decide between "there is" and "there are"?

You decide based on the noun that follows the phrase. Use "there is" for singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns (e.g., "There is a cat," "There is water"). Use "there are" for plural countable nouns (e.g., "There are two cats").

Can "there is" and "there are" be used in questions?

Yes, absolutely! To form a question, you simply invert the order: "Is there...?" for singular/uncountable and "Are there...?" for plural. For example, "Is there a book?" or "Are there any books?"

What are the negative forms and contractions of "there is" and "there are"?

The negative forms are "There isn't" (for singular/uncountable) and "There aren't" (for plural). The common contraction for "There is" in affirmative sentences is "There's" (e.g., "There's a problem").