THERE IS - THERE ARE

We use there is and there are to say that something exists.

Positive Sentences

We use there is for singular and there are for plural:

• There is one table in the classroom.

• There are three chairs in the classroom.

• There is a spider in the bath.

We also use There is with uncountable nouns:

• There is some milk in the fridge.

• There is some sugar on the table.

• There is some ice cream on your shirt.

Contractions

The contraction of there is is there's:

• There's a good song on the radio.

• There's only one chocolate left in the box.

You cannot contract there are:

• There are nine cats on the roof.

• There are only five weeks until my birthday.

Negative Form

The negative is formed by putting not after is or are:

• There is not a horse in the field.

• There are not eight children in the school.

• There is not a tree in the garden.

The Negative contractions are:

• There's not = There isn't

• There are not = There aren't

Questions

To form a question we place is / are in front of there:

• Is there a dog in the supermarket? - No, there isn't.

• Are there any dogs in the park? - Yes, there are.

• Is there a security guard in the shop? - Yes, there is.