Grammar · Lesson 12

there is / there are

Say what exists in a place: There’s a pharmacy near my house, There are two chairs, and Is there a bank?

45–55 min coresingular · plural · uncountableintroducing what exists15–20 min optional listening and retrieval

NoticeExplore a new apartment.

DiscoverMatch is / are to the noun.

BuildDescribe, deny, and ask.

UseGive a fictional tour or service check.

There is / there are is how English puts something on the table: a cafe on your street, a problem in a file, two chairs in the kitchen.

Two-minute retrieval

Three quick checks from earlier lessons

Answer from memory, then check. Say each complete sentence aloud.

1The inventory lists two in the kitchen. (regular plurals)

2The profile says he is engineer. (a or an)

3Leo’s regular Monday schedule says he work early. (present simple)

Notice before the rule

A new apartment

"There is a small kitchen. There are two bedrooms. There isn’t a balcony. Are there any stores nearby?"

Which form introduces one thing? Which introduces more than one?
Where does not go?
What moves to the front in a question?

Discovery check: choose the pattern

Look at the noun after the verb. One thing or an amount takes is; more than one takes are.

1The street map introduces one cafe: There a cafe on the corner.

2The same map introduces three cafes: There three cafes on this street.

3A visitor asks about one facility: there a restroom on this floor?

4A customer asks about plural furniture: there any tables near the window?

5The fridge note introduces an uncountable amount: There some milk in the fridge.

6The building guide introduces five floors: There five floors in the building.

The system: there is and there are

The noun after the verb decides the form. One thing: there is. More than one: there are.

	singular	plural
positive	There is a desk.	There are two desks.
negative	There isn’t a desk.	There aren’t any desks.
question	Is there a desk?	Are there any desks?

There’s is the usual spoken form of there is. Use there are for plural nouns. Short answers: Yes, there is. / No, there aren’t.

Get to the root: introduce something into the scene

There is / there are answers the basic question “What exists or is available here?” It is an introducing structure. The listener does not need to know about the thing before you mention it.

Existence first, location second

There is a cafe on this street. introduces a cafe into the conversation. The cafe is on this street. identifies the location of a cafe that both people already know about.

There’s a problem. = I am introducing the problem.
The problem is in this file. = We already know which problem; now I locate it.

“There” has a grammar job

In this pattern, there does not usually mean “in that place.” It holds the subject position so English can introduce new information after the verb. Compare There is a bank there: the first there builds the structure; the second one really means “in that place.”

New thing or known thing?

A speaker often uses there is / there are to bring a thing into the conversation. After both people know which thing it is, the speaker can use it or the noun with the.

There’s a pharmacy on Oak Street. It’s beside the bank. The pharmacy closes at 8.

The first sentence introduces the pharmacy. The next two sentences talk about that known pharmacy. This is a meaning choice, not simply a choice between two forms of be.

The noun controls is or are

Look forward to the first noun after the verb. One countable thing or an uncountable substance takes is; plural things take are.

noun idea	form	example
one thing	there is	There is a message.
uncountable amount	there is	There is some water.
more than one	there are	There are three messages.

In quick informal speech, you may hear There’s two people outside. Careful standard English uses There are two people outside, so that is the form to build first.

Sound natural: link the structure and stress the new thing

There is / there are introduces information, so the new noun usually carries the strongest beat: There’s a CAFE nearby and There are two WINdows. The structure is lighter; the thing you are introducing is clearer.

careful form	natural spoken rhythm	focus
There is a problem.	There’s-a problem.	problem
There are two seats.	There-are two seats.	two seats
Is there a bank?	Is-there-a bank?	bank
Are there any tables?	Are-there-any tables?	tables

There’s is a common spoken and written contraction. English normally writes there are as two words, although speakers make are very short and link it to there. Linking does not change the grammar. Keep are for plural nouns, and use the full careful rhythm when the listener needs extra clarity.

Listen: one, many, amount, or known thing?

Your teacher reads each complete fictional context once at a natural speed and once more slowly. Listen to the noun and the information status before you choose. Check your answer before discussing the line with your tutor.

Tutor-read listening check

1The guide introduces one elevator: an elevator beside reception.

2The guide introduces two restrooms: two restrooms on this floor.

3The kitchen update introduces an uncountable amount: some coffee in the kitchen.

4The visitor asks about plural facilities: any outlets near this table?

5The notice reports that one service is unavailable: a shuttle today.

6The speaker already introduced the elevator and now locates that known elevator: beside reception.

Drill 1: choose the natural chunk

Read to the noun first. Then choose the chunk that fits.

1The map introduces one pharmacy: a pharmacy on the corner.

2The building guide lists two elevators: two elevators in the building.

3The listing says parking is unavailable: a parking lot, so I take the bus.

4The room inspection finds zero windows: any windows in the meeting room.

5The kitchen note introduces an uncountable amount: some coffee in the kitchen.

6The area guide introduces many restaurants: many restaurants near my office.

7The station guide introduces one ATM: an ATM in the station.

8The waiting-room display reports zero chairs left: any chairs left in the waiting room.

Questions, negatives, and useful answers

Because is / are is the working verb, it moves before there in a question. It also carries not in a negative. No do / does is needed.

question	short answer	natural extra information
Is there a restroom?	Yes, there is.	It’s near the entrance.
Are there any seats?	No, there aren’t.	But there are some outside.

Articles and quantity still matter

Use a/an with one countable noun: There is a pharmacy. Use a number or some with plural nouns. In ordinary questions and negatives, any is common: Are there any pharmacies? There aren’t any nearby.

No gives the same zero quantity in another natural pattern: There is no parking lot and There are no free seats. Do not combine the two negative patterns: use There aren’t any seats or There are no seats.

Drill 2: type is, are, isn’t, aren’t, Is, or Are

Find the noun after the verb, then choose its form. Questions start with the verb.

1The transit map introduces one stop: There a bus stop outside.

2The line counter shows four people: There four people in line.

3The directory confirms that no bank is available here: There a bank here.

4The host says all the tables are occupied: There any free tables.

5A visitor asks about one restroom: there a restroom on this floor?

6A customer asks about plural seats: there any seats near the window?

Read and choose

An apartment listing

"Bright one-bedroom apartment on Alder Street. There’s a modern kitchen and a large closet in the bedroom. There are two big windows in the living room. There isn’t a parking space, but there’s a bus stop across the street. Sorry, no pets: there aren’t any animals in the building."

Drill 3: read, then choose

1. How many big windows are there in the living room?

2. Which listed apartment feature is missing?

3. Where is the bus stop?

Drill 4: build the question

A new resident wants to know whether the area has stores. Build the plural question.

Drill 5: build the negative

The accessibility inspection found no elevator. Build the singular negative.

Notice and repair errors

Drill 6: the noun decides

Tap the word that is wrong.

Drill 7: introduce it with there

A caller begins the conversation with “It is a problem with my order.” Tap the word that is wrong in this first mention.

Drill 8: say it, then reveal

Read the cue, say the full sentence aloud, then reveal only after you answer.

1 There is a chair. Change to three.

There are three chairs.

2 There is a parking lot. Make a question.

Is there a parking lot?

3 There are some seats. Make it negative.

There aren’t any seats.

4 Is there a restroom? Answer yes.

Yes, there is.

5 Are there any tables? Answer no.

No, there aren’t.

6 My street has a pharmacy. Say it with there’s.

There’s a pharmacy on my street.

Play and practice

Games and a short reading that recycle this lesson. Use them as a warm-up, a fast finisher, or homework. Each one checks itself.

Read

Our new office

Read once for meaning. Then read again and do the tasks below.

Email to coworkers82 wordsAbout 1 min

Hi team, here is some news about our new office on Pine Street. There is a big kitchen, and there are two meeting rooms. The kitchen is next to the main door.

There isn’t a parking lot, but there is a bus stop across the street. There aren’t any restaurants on Pine Street, so please bring your lunch.

Is there a gym nearby? Yes, there is. It is on the corner, and it is open until ten. See you on Monday! Grace

Find it

Tap the 7 forms of be that go with there: is, are, isn’t, or aren’t. Skip is in other sentences.

Check your understanding

1. How many meeting rooms are there?

2. Why should the team bring lunch?

3. Where is the gym?

Sort it

There is or there are?

Look at the noun. Tap each phrase, then tap the opening it needs.

Match up

Ask and answer

Tap an item on the left, then its partner on the right.

Question

Useful answer

Unscramble

Build there is and there are sentences

Tap the words in order to build the sentence. Tap a placed word to send it back.

1. Introduce two windows in the living room.
2. Ask about places to sit (plural).
3. The listing has no place for a car.
4. Ask about one machine that carries people between floors.

Use it in real life

You never need to describe your actual home, neighborhood, workplace, location, schedule, or finances. Use an invented map, a fictional listing, or a teacher-read scene card. If a visual is not accessible, the teacher reads every relevant feature aloud.

Apartment card: Give a six-sentence tour of an invented apartment or a provided listing. Include a singular item, a plural item, an uncountable amount, and one negative.

Neighborhood map: Introduce three places on a fictional map, then ask the teacher three Is there / Are there...? questions about a second map.

Accessible room check: Use a written room inventory or teacher-read scene. Report one available feature, two plural features, and one missing feature.

Choose an apartment: Call about a fictional listing. Ask focused questions about bedrooms, transportation, stores, furniture, and one accessibility feature.

Introduce, then locate: Introduce a place with there is, then refer to the known place with it: There's a cafe on Pine Street. It's beside the library.

Final production: recommend one neighborhood

Study two short fictional neighborhood inventories. Give a 45- to 60-second recommendation for one person: a commuter, a wheelchair user, or someone who enjoys cooking at home.

Introduce at least one singular place and one plural set of places.
Include one uncountable amount or service, such as traffic, parking, or public transportation.
State one missing feature with isn't / aren't any or no.
Ask one correctly ordered Is there...? or Are there...? question.
Refer back to one introduced place with it or the + noun.

The teacher asks one follow-up question. Repair one sentence if the noun number, information status, or quantity word is unclear.

Reflect

Say the system back

Complete this aloud: “One thing or an amount: there ______. More than one: there ______. In a question, ______ moves before there. In negatives and questions, plural nouns often take ______.”

Then introduce three fictional things: one singular, one plural, and one uncountable amount. Refer back to one of them with it or the + noun.

Final quiz: there is / there are forms and meaning

1. A room inventory introduces one table: ___ a table in the kitchen.

2. A visitor asks about plural windows in the meeting room: ___ any windows?

3. The schedule shows zero nighttime bus service: There ___ any buses at night.

4. A maintenance report introduces an uncountable amount: There ___ some water on the floor.

5. A local guide introduces one cafe for the first time: ___ a good cafe near here.

6. A receptionist tells a caller about a message the caller cannot see and does not know about. Which sentence introduces the message?

7. Complete the positive short answer: “Is there a pharmacy nearby?” “Yes, ___.”

8. You want to know whether a waiting room has seats available. Which plural question is correct?

Return tomorrow before rereading the lesson. Complete the five-minute next-day retrieval, then revisit only the noun-number, quantity, question-order, or new-versus-known decision that still feels slow.

Next-day retrieval

Choose from number and information status

1The directory introduces one pharmacy: a pharmacy on Cedar Street.

2The directory introduces two clinics: two clinics near the station.

3A visitor asks about one accessible entrance: an accessible entrance?

4The pharmacy is now known. Refer back to it: beside the library.

Repair the agreement

The building guide says “There is two elevators in the building.” Tap the word that is wrong.

Thirty-second retrieval

Without looking back, introduce one cafe and two stores on an invented street. Ask whether there is a bank. Then refer back to the cafe with it.

There's a cafe and there are two stores on the street. Is there a bank? The cafe is beside the station. It's open until 8.