4.3: Grammar

Grammar Focus: There is/ There are 

• Use there is/ there are to indicate that something exists in the present.
• Use count nouns for the nouns that you can count (e.g., books, erasers, tables). Count nouns can be singular (i.e., one object) or plural (i.e., two objects or more)
• Use non-count nouns for the nouns that you cannot count (e.g., water, salt, sugar). Non-count nouns are always in the singular form.

Affirmative Form

I. There is 

• There is + a + singular count nouns
• There is + non-count nouns
• The contraction of there is is there’s. Use the contraction in speaking or informal writing.

Examples:

1. There is a clock on the wall.
2. There’s a good restaurant downtown.
3. There is information about the new courses.
4. There’s a lot of food in the fridge.

II. There are 

• There are + plural count nouns
• We cannot contract there are

Examples:

1. There are a lot of people in the mall.
2. There are many places to visit in California.
3. There are only five weeks until my birthday.
4. There are twenty five students in the class.

Negative Form

The negative is formed by putting not after there is or there are. We often use the negative form with any.

Negative contraction:

• There is not = There isn’t or there’s not
• There are not = There aren’t

Examples:

1. There is not an oak tree in the garden.
2. There isn’t any snow in the winter here.
3. There are not many children in the school.
4. There aren’t any tickets left for the show.

Interrogative Form

To form the interrogative form (questions), we put is or are before there. We can use any in questions with plural nouns or non-count nouns. Do NOT use any with singular count nouns. 

• Is there + a + singular count nouns?

Examples:

1. Is there a park in the neighborhood?        - No, there isn’t.
2. Is there a printer in the office?                 - Yes, there is.

• Is there + non-count nouns?

Examples:

1. Is there any milk in the fridge?                 - Yes, there is some.
2. Is there any paper in the printer?              - No, there isn’t.

• Are there + plural count nouns?

Examples:

1. Are there any buses to school on the weekend?    - No, there aren’t.
2. Are there many students in class?                        - No, there are only a few students.

Grammar Practice

Practice 1

Directions:  Use there is, there is not, there are, or there are not in the following sentences: 

Example:  _There are__ 28 books on the shelf. 

1. _____________________ a lot of new restaurants that we can try.
2. _____________________ a library close to our school.
3. _____________________ any people on the street.
4. _____________________ some coffee in the cup.
5. _____________________ any students asking questions about the test.
6. _____________________ a taxi parked near the campus.
7. _____________________ many flights canceled due to the storm.
8. _____________________ any food in the fridge.
9. _____________________ any movies that I want to see.
10. _____________________ many things that we have to study for the final.

Practice 2

Directions:  Complete the questions and short answers using the correct form of there is or there are. 

Example:  Is there a printer in the break room? - Yes, there is. 
                  Are there three bedrooms in your apartment? - No, there aren’t. 

1. ____________________ a table in the living room? - No, ____________________
2. ____________________ any new students in class? - Yes, ____________________
3. ____________________ any direct flights from here to New York? - Yes, ____________________
4. ____________________ many trees in the park?  - Yes, ____________________
5. ____________________ many people on the street? - No, ____________________
6. ____________________ a pharmacy in this area? - Yes, ____________________
7. ____________________ any milk in the coffee? - No, ____________________
8. ____________________ any movies that you want to see? - Yes, ____________________
9. ____________________ a lot of children in school? - Yes, ____________________
10. ____________________ any information that she knows? - No, ____________________

Practice 3

Directions:  Make sentences using there is/ there are with the following words. 

Example:  There is a park close to my school. 
                  There are a lot of pens and pencils on the desk.  

1. key        __________________________________________________________
2. minutes __________________________________________________________
3. books    __________________________________________________________
4. music    __________________________________________________________
5. money   __________________________________________________________
6. cities     __________________________________________________________
7. courses  __________________________________________________________
8. apartments _______________________________________________________
9. furniture _________________________________________________________
10. jobs       __________________________________________________________