What are "There is / There are" in English Grammar?
In English, we cannot simply use a noun as a subject and the verb "be" to declare that something exists (e.g., saying A book is on the table sounds incredibly robotic or poetic). Instead, to state the presence or existence of a noun in a specific location or time, we use the "existential" dummy subject "There". Combining There with the verb Be (There is / There are) is the most fundamental building block in English for describing scenes, introducing new information, or stating facts.
"There is" vs "There are" Structure and Formula
The grammatical trick with this structure is that the actual, logical subject of the sentence comes after the verb. The word "There" is just a fake, empty placeholder. Therefore, the verb (is or are) must mathematically agree with the noun that follows it.
1. Singular and Uncountable Formula
Use "There is" (often contracted to There's) when describing a single item, or when describing a mass/uncountable noun (like water, air, time, information).
* Formula: There + is + Singular Noun / Uncountable Noun + (Location/Time)
* Singular Noun: There is (or There's) a cat on the roof.
* Uncountable Noun: There is some water in the glass.
* Negative Formula: There + isn't + a/an/any + Noun
* Negative: There isn't any milk left.
2. Plural Formula
Use "There are" when describing two or more distinct items. Note: "There are" cannot be naturally contracted to "There're" in written English, though it sounds like that in fast speech.
* Formula: There + are + Plural Noun + (Location/Time)
* Plural Noun: There are three students in the room.
* Plural Noun: There are many problems to solve.
* Negative Formula: There + aren't + any/many + Plural Noun
* Negative: There aren't any dogs in the park.
3. Question Form Formulas
To turn these statements into questions, simply apply standard subject-verb inversion, swapping "There" and the "Be" verb.
* Formula: Is / Are + there + Noun + ?
* Singular Question: Is there a problem?
* Plural Question: Are there any questions?
* Wh- Question: How many cars are there?
Advanced Time and Modal Variations
The beauty of the "There + Be" structure is that the verb "Be" can be shifted into any mathematical tense or attached to any modal verb to express existence in the past, future, or hypothetically.
- Past Existence: There was a storm. / There were storms.
- Future Existence: There will be a test tomorrow. (Never say "There will have")
- Perfect Existence: There has been an accident. / There have been accidents.
- Modal Possibility: There might be a delay. / There should be a standard.
How to Tell the Difference Between "There" and "It"
This is a massive point of confusion for English learners.
* "There" introduces NEW information and states existence.
* Example: "There is a book on the table." (I am telling you about the existence of a book).
* "It" replaces PREVIOUSLY KNOWN information or acts as a subject for weather/time.
* Example: "There is a book on the table. It is blue." (I am now describing the book we already know exists).
Real-life Examples of "There is / There are" Usage
- Giving Directions: "Go down that street. There is a bank on the corner."
- Making Complaints: "Excuse me, there is a fly in my soup."
- Scientific Observation: "There are roughly 100 billion galaxies in the universe."
Summary & Cheatsheet for There is / There are
| Grammar Form | Meaning / Count | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| There is (There's) | 1 item or uncountable | There + is + N(sing) | There is a dog. |
| There are | 2+ items | There + are + N(pl) | There are dogs. |
| There was/were | Past existence | There + was/were + N | There was a fire. |
| There will be | Future existence | There + will be + N | There will be snow. |
| Are there...? | Asking if 2+ exist | Are + there + N(pl)? | Are there any left? |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say "There's" for plural nouns?
Grammatically, no. You should never write, "There's three cars outside." However, you will hear native English speakers do this constantly in highly informal, raw, spoken conversation because saying "There's" is faster and lazier than articulating "There are." Do not copy this habit in standardized tests or formal writing.
What do I use if there is a list of mixed singular and plural items?
This is called the "Rule of Proximity." You match the verb (is or are) to the mathematically closest noun in the list immediately following the verb.
Example 1: There is a pen, a notebook, and two books on the desk. (Matches "a pen").
Example 2: There are two books, a pen, and a notebook on the desk. (Matches "two books").
What is the difference between "There isn't any milk" and "There is no milk"?
They mean exactly the same thing. However, using "There is no [noun]" is considered much more emphatic, dramatic, and slightly more formal than using "There isn't any [noun]".