There is / there are

When you want to say that something exists or is present somewhere, English often uses a special little pattern: there is and there are. It doesn't mean "over there" pointing at a place — it introduces new information into the conversation. To talk about something both people already know about, normal word order is used instead: The book is on the table.

Basic rule: one thing → there is (there's). More than one thing → there are.

There is / there are: the basic forms

The verb agrees with what comes after it — singular or plural:

	Form	Example
Singular / uncountable	there is (there's)	There's a cat in the garden.
Plural	there are	There are three chairs here.

In standard English, always use there are before a plural noun — you may hear there's used with plurals in very casual speech, but it's best avoided in careful English.

There's a good restaurant near my house.
There are two windows in this room.
There's some milk in the fridge. (uncountable — see below)

In speech and informal writing, there is is often contracted to there's: There's a park nearby. The full form There is a park nearby is also correct — it just sounds a little more careful or formal. There are is usually kept in full, even in speech.

Choosing a / an or plural nouns

Because there is/are usually introduces new or previously unmentioned information, it's typically followed by an indefinite article (a, an) with singular nouns, or a plural noun with no article at all:

There's a book on the table. = new information. Compare: The book is on the table — used when both speaker and listener already know which book.
There are apples in the bowl.
There's an umbrella by the door.

With uncountable nouns, use there is followed by the noun, often with some or any: There's some water in the bottle. / Is there any coffee?

Questions: Is there...? / Are there...?

To ask whether something exists, is or are simply moves in front of there — no do/does needed, because there is/are already has its own verb:

✅ Is there a bathroom here? — never ❌ Does there a bathroom here?
✅ Are there any shops nearby?
Is there a problem?
Are there enough chairs for everyone?

Short answers follow the same pattern as with be:

Is there a pool? — Yes, there is. / No, there isn't.
Are there any seats left? — Yes, there are. / No, there aren't.

Negatives: isn't / aren't

Add not straight after is or are, usually contracted:

✅ There isn't a mirror in this room. — never ❌ There no is a mirror.
✅ There aren't any messages for you.
There isn't any sugar left.
There aren't many people here today.

You can also use no right after is/are, instead of isn't/aren't any — both mean the same thing:

There is no sugar left. = There isn't any sugar left.
There are no messages for you. = There aren't any messages for you.

Some and any

With plurals and uncountable nouns, there is/are commonly pairs with some and any, following the usual pattern: some in affirmative sentences, any in questions and negatives.

There are some books on the shelf. (affirmative) — Are there any books on the shelf? (question) — There aren't any books on the shelf. (negative)
There's some milk in the fridge. (affirmative) — Is there any milk in the fridge? (question) — There isn't any milk in the fridge. (negative)

Saying where something is

There is/are is often followed by a phrase that says exactly where something is — usually built with prepositions of place like in, on, at, under, or next to (their own topic, coming soon):

There's a lamp on the desk.
There are two dogs under the table.
There's a supermarket next to the station.

Common mistakes

❌ It is a book on the table. → ✅ There's a book on the table. (use there, not it, to introduce something new)
❌ There have three students in the class. → ✅ There are three students in the class. (use be, not have, with there)
❌ There is two cats in the yard. → ✅ There are two cats in the yard. (plural noun needs are, not is)
❌ Does there a bank near here? → ✅ Is there a bank near here? (no do/does with there is/are)
❌ There no is a clock on the wall. → ✅ There isn't a clock on the wall. (negative is isn't, not no is)
❌ There's many problems. → ✅ There are many problems. (there's is only for singular/uncountable)

Quick check

Which form fits?

____ a park near my house. (There's / There are)
____ any tickets left? (Is there / Are there)
There ____ three books on the desk. (is / are)
There ____ any milk in the fridge. (isn't / aren't)

Show answers

There's 2. Are there 3. are 4. isn't

Key takeaways

There is (there's) introduces one thing or an uncountable amount; there are introduces more than one thing.
Questions swap the word order: Is there...? / Are there...? — no do/does needed.
Negatives are There isn't... and There aren't... (or there is/are no...).
There is/are usually pairs with a/an, plural nouns, or some/any, since it typically introduces new information — for something both people already know, use normal word order instead: The book is on the table.