There is/ There are

We use the phrases there is and there are to show that something or somebody exists.

We use there is with singular and uncountable nouns.

Example:

There is a book on the table.

There is milk in the bottle.

We use there are with plural nouns.

Example:

There are five pens in my bag.

singularplural
affirmativeThere is/There’sThere are
negativeThere isn’tThere aren’t
interrogativeIs there?Are there?
short answersYes, there is./
No, there isn’t		Yes, there are./
No, there aren’t

Note that if you want to list more than one object or person and first one is in singular, you must use there is.

Example:

There is a bed, a chair and a desk in the room.

not

There are a bed, a chair and a desk in the room.

There is/There are vs Have got

We use There is/There are to say that something or somebody exists while we use have/has got when we mention who possesses something.

Example:

There is a blue house up the street.

Maria has got a blue house up the street.

Read more about have got here.

Do the quiz there is vs have got :

Quiz

1. The Browns ______ a beautiful villa by the sea.

 
 

2. In my bedroom ______ two chairs.

 
 

3. _______ a lot of people in the street.

 
 

4. My cat ______ beautiful white fur.

 
 

5. In our garden ______ an apple tree.

 
 

6. ________ eight rooms in our hose.

 
 

7. In our class______ 33 students.

 
 

8. ______ a book, a pencil and a ruler on my desk.

 
 

9. My mum _____ a red car.

 
 

10. _______ a lot of food in the fridge.