There Is and There Are: Rules, Questions and Examples

We use there is and there are to introduce something new: to say that it exists, or that it is in a particular place. The real subject comes after the verb, so the noun decides if we use is or are.

Use there is with one thing (a singular noun) and with things we cannot count (uncountable nouns like water, money, time, traffic). Use there are with more than one thing (plural nouns). If you are not sure about countable and uncountable nouns, read countable and uncountable nouns.

The word there in these sentences does not mean in that place. It is just a grammar word that fills the subject position, because an English sentence needs a subject before the verb.

For a negative, use there isn't or there aren't. With plural and uncountable nouns we usually add any: There aren't any chairs. There isn't any sugar. With a singular countable noun, use a: There isn't a lift.

You can also use no with a positive verb: There are no chairs. There's no sugar. The meaning is the same, but no sounds a little stronger. Never use no and not together: There aren't no chairs is wrong in standard English. For more about this, see some vs any.

To make a question, put is or are before there: Is there a gym? Are there any towels? With plural and uncountable nouns we usually use any in questions.

To ask about number, use How many ... are there? with plural nouns and How much ... is there? with uncountable nouns. Notice the word order: the question word and noun come first, then are there or is there. See much, many and a lot of for more.

When you list several things, the verb usually agrees with the first noun after it. In careful writing: There is a sofa, two chairs and a lamp. There are two chairs, a sofa and a lamp. Many native speakers say there's before a list in everyday speech, even with plurals, but in writing and exams use there are with plural nouns.

With a lot of and lots of, the verb agrees with the noun after of: There are a lot of cars. There's a lot of traffic.

Use there is to say something exists for the first time. Use it or they to talk about it after that: There's a new café on Main Street. It's very nice. Learners sometimes say It has a café on Main Street, but in English that sentence needs there is.

Use have or [have got](/english-grammar/have-got) for possession, when a person or thing owns something: I have two brothers. Our flat has a balcony. Both Our flat has a balcony and There's a balcony in our flat are correct.

Use it is for weather, time and distance: It's cold. It's late. Use there is for things: There's snow on the roads.

You will use there is and there are when you describe your home, give directions, ask for things in shops and hotels, and talk about problems. A very common pattern for problems is There's a problem with.... In speech, there's is used much more than there is, and Is there...? is a polite way to ask if something is available. Practise it with prepositions of place to describe where things are.