There Is Are

Meaning
We use there is and there are when we want to say that something exists (or does not exist):
 There's a centipede under this stone.

 There are two good reasons to do this.
 There isn't any flour in the pantry.
 There aren't any seats available.
 Is there any petrol in the car?
 Are there any potatoes?
Note that we often use there is and there are with a/an, some and any. A/an go with singular,
countable nouns. Some and any go with uncountable and plural nouns. (See more about countable
and uncountable nouns). A/an and some are used in the affirmative. Any is used with questions and
negative statements:
 There is a book on the table.

 There is an ant on your leg.
 There is some tea in the pot.
 There are some tools in the second drawer.
 There isn't any water in the bottle.
 There aren't any eggs in the fridge.
 Is there any coffee left?
 Are there any tickets for the show?
Note that in informal speech, we often use there is with plural nouns:
 There's some people coming in the front gate.

 There's some biscuits in the tin in the pantry.
We can use there in this way with all tenses:
 There was a small boy standing next to the pond.

 There have been many attempts to climb the mountain.
 There will be many refugees if the war begins.
We cannot use it is in the same way as there is. Whereas there is is used to say that something
exists (, it is is used for things that people already know about, or that we have already talked about.
 There's a big dog in the garden. It's a German shepherd.

o There is – ada sesuatu benda/ orang.
o It is – benda yg diketahui / diperkatakan
There is and there are (and their forms in other tenses) can also be used in question tags:
 There isn't any reason for going, is there?

 There won't be too many people, will there?
 There was nobody looking, was there?
More information about there is and there are:
http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramch24.html#2f2
1
i. Here and There
The words here and there, indicating location, are often used at the beginning of a clause, followed by the
verb to be.
In this construction, if the subject of the verb is a noun, the subject follows the verb (be + noun)
e.g. Here are (the tickets.) (the subject)
There was (our bus.)
In these examples, the noun subjects tickets and bus follow the verbs are and was.
However, if the subject of the verb is a personal pronoun, the subject precedes the verb ( noun + be).
e.g. Here they are. (they is personal pronoun)
There it was.
In these examples, the personal pronoun subjects they and it precede the verbs are and was.
When the subject follows the verb, care must be taken to make sure that the verb agrees with its subject.
e.g. Here is one of the examples.
There are his aunt and uncle.
In the first example, the verb is is singular to agree with the singular subject one. In the second example, the
verb are is plural to agree with the plural subject his aunt and uncle.
ii. There used as an introductory word

In addition to being used to indicate location, there can also be used as an introductory word, in clauses
indicating the existence of something. There as an introductory word is often used with verbs such as to be, to
appear and to seem. In the following examples, the verbs are underlined.
e.g. There is a public holiday on Monday.
There are three universities in the city.
There seem to be two possible answers to this question.
In affirmative statements using this construction, the subject follows the verb. In the following examples, the
subjects are underlined.
e.g. There are only twenty-four hours in a day.
There seems to be a message for you.
In the first example, the verb are is plural, to agree with the plural subject hours. In the second example, the
verb seems is singular, to agree with the singular subject message.
In questions using this construction, there follows the verb in the case of the Simple Present or Simple Past of
the verb to be; otherwise, there follows the first auxiliary. In the case of the Simple Present and Simple Past of
verbs other than the verb to be, the auxiliary to do must be used. In the following examples, the verbs are
underlined.
e.g. Is there a post office near here?
Were there many people on the train?
Can there be any doubt about it?
Do there seem to be any maple trees in this forest?
In the first two examples, there follows is and were, the Simple Present and Simple Past of the verb to be. In
the last two examples, there follows the first auxiliaries can and do.
Here are some of the most common errors using there is / there are, preceded by their correct form:
Correct Form Common Errors
There is a problem with the motor. He has a problem with the motor.
There has a problem with the motor.
2
Have a problem with the motor.
How many students are there in your English How many students is there in your English class?
class?
The word students is plural, so you must use the plural

form of the verb 'to be': are.
How many students there are in your English class?
To form questions invert the order:

there are > are there.
In my neighborhood there is an outdoor In my neighborhood there are an outdoor swimming pool

swimming pool and two parks. and two parks.
If the first noun in the list of things is singular, use there

is.
Countable and uncountable nouns
grammar game Back to Index
Briefly, the difference countable and uncountable nouns can be explained as follows:
Countable nouns are things we can count, and have both singular and plural forms:
A boy; two boys; a car; two cars
You can use a/an before countable nouns.
Uncountable nouns are things that we cannot count. They do not have a plural form:
Air, sand, ice, wisdom (NOT airs, sands, ices, wisdoms).
You cannot use a/an before an uncountable noun. Instead, you can use a measurement and the word of:
A breath of air
A grain of sand
A block of ice
A lot of wisdom
Uncountable nouns are followed by the singular form of the verb:
The air is clean.

The sand feels hot.
This coffee tastes horrible.

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Meaning

 There's a centipede under this stone.

 There is a book on the table.

 There's some people coming in the front gate.

We can use there in this way with all tenses:

 There was a small boy standing next to the pond.

 There's a big dog in the garden. It's a German shepherd.

 There isn't any reason for going, is there?

More information about there is and there are:

ii. There used as an introductory word

Correct Form Common Errors

The word students is plural, so you must use the plural

How many students there are in your English class?

To form questions invert the order:

In my neighborhood there is an outdoor In my neighborhood there are an outdoor swimming pool

If the first noun in the list of things is singular, use there

Countable and uncountable nouns

grammar game Back to Index

A boy; two boys; a car; two cars

You can use a/an before countable nouns.

Air, sand, ice, wisdom (NOT airs, sands, ices, wisdoms).

Uncountable nouns are followed by the singular form of the verb:

The air is clean.

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