Mastering the basics of English sentence structure often begins with understanding how to express existence. Among the first building blocks learners encounter are the phrases there is and there are. While they appear simple on the surface, these structures—known grammatically as existential clauses—carry specific rules regarding subject-verb agreement, contraction usage, and question formation that frequently trip up even intermediate speakers. Whether you are writing a formal email, describing a scene in a story, or simply pointing out objects in a room, choosing the correct form is essential for clarity and fluency.
The Core Rule: Singular vs. Plural Agreement
The fundamental principle governing the choice between there is and there are lies in the noun that follows the verb. In standard English grammar, the verb must agree in number with the logical subject (the noun phrase coming after the verb), not the dummy subject "there."
Quick note before moving on.
When to Use "There Is"
Use there is when the noun immediately following it is singular or uncountable. This signals that only one item, person, or concept exists in that context But it adds up..
- There is a book on the table. (Singular countable noun)
- There is an apple in the bag. (Singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound)
- There is some water in the glass. (Uncountable noun)
- There is a lot of noise outside. (Uncountable noun phrase)
When to Use "There Are"
Use there are when the noun following it is plural. This indicates the existence of multiple items or people.
- There are three books on the shelf.
- There are many students in the classroom.
- There are a few problems with this plan.
- There are several options available.
Key Takeaway: Always look at the first noun after the verb to make your decision. > * *There are pens, a notebook, and an eraser in my bag.Which means even in a list, the agreement depends on the first item. > * *There is a pen, a notebook, and an eraser in my bag.And * (Correct: First noun "pen" is singular). * (Correct: First noun "pens" is plural) Took long enough..
Contractions: Natural Speech vs. Formal Writing
In spoken English and informal writing, there is almost always contracts to there’s. That said, there are does not have a standard contraction in modern standard English. You will rarely hear "there're" in formal contexts, and it often sounds clumsy even in casual speech Most people skip this — try not to..
- Informal/Spoken: There’s a meeting at 3 PM.
- Formal/Written: There is a meeting at 3 PM.
- Plural (No Contraction): There are two meetings today. (Not "There're two meetings...")
A Common Error to Avoid: Learners often overgeneralize there’s (because it rolls off the tongue easily) and use it with plural nouns.
- ❌ There’s many people waiting.
- ✅ There are many people waiting.
- ✅ There’re many people waiting. (Acceptable in very rapid, casual speech, but best avoided in writing).
Forming Questions and Negatives
The structure shifts slightly when turning these statements into questions or negative sentences. The verb be moves to the front for questions, and not is placed after the verb for negatives Not complicated — just consistent..
Questions (Inversion)
Simply invert the subject ("there") and the verb (is/are).
- Singular: Is there a problem? / Is there any milk left?
- Plural: Are there any cookies left? / Are there many tourists in winter?
Short Answers:
- Is there a doctor here? → Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.
- Are there any seats? → Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.
Negative Forms
Add not after is or are. Contractions are very common here.
- Singular: There is not → There isn’t a cloud in the sky.
- Plural: There are not → There aren’t any tickets left.
- With "Any": In negative sentences, some typically changes to any.
- There is some coffee. → There isn’t any coffee.
- There are some chairs. → There aren’t any chairs.
Advanced Nuances: Quantifiers and Collective Nouns
Real-world usage introduces complexity. Quantifiers (words indicating amount) and collective nouns often confuse the singular/plural decision That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Quantifiers: "A Lot Of," "Lots Of," "Plenty Of"
These phrases take their number from the noun they modify The details matter here..
- There is a lot of traffic. (Traffic is uncountable → Singular)
- There are a lot of cars. (Cars is plural → Plural)
- There is plenty of time. (Uncountable)
- There are plenty of hotels. (Plural)
"A Number Of" vs. "The Number Of"
This is a classic distinction Took long enough..
- A number of = Many (Plural verb).
- There are a number of reasons to stay.
- The number of = A specific statistic (Singular verb).
- There is the number of applicants to consider. (Focus is on the statistic itself).
Collective Nouns (Family, Team, Group, Staff)
In American English, collective nouns are almost always treated as singular units. Still, * *There is a team of researchers working on it. *
- *There is a large family living next door.
In British English, collective nouns can be plural if the emphasis is on the individual members It's one of those things that adds up..
- There are a team of researchers arguing among themselves. (BrE preference for plural focus).
"There Is" with a List of Items (The "First Noun" Rule Revisited)
As mentioned briefly earlier, when listing items, the verb agrees with the first noun only. This often leads to a singular verb even when the total count is plural.
- There is a kitchen, a living room, and three bedrooms upstairs.
- There are three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room upstairs.
Both are grammatically correct. Which means the choice depends on what you want to highlight first. That said, in casual speech, many native speakers default to there’s (singular) regardless of the list that follows ("There’s a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a garage"), though strict grammar guides prefer the agreement rule Practical, not theoretical..
Worth pausing on this one.
"There" as a Dummy Subject: Understanding the Syntax
Linguistically, the word there in these sentences is classified as a dummy subject (or expletive subject). It holds the subject position required by English syntax (Subject-Verb-Object order) but carries no semantic meaning itself. It does not refer to a location (unlike "Put the box there").
The true subject (the "notional subject") is the noun phrase following the verb.
- → A spider is the true subject. On top of that, Is agrees with spider. * There is a spider. → Spiders is the true subject. * *There are spiders.Are agrees with spiders.
Understanding this helps explain why the verb agrees with the noun after it, not with "there."
Other Tenses: Past, Future, and Perfect
The *there is/are
