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When we introduce an item or a topic, we often use the phrase “There is…” (singular form) or “There are…” (plural form).

Pattern (singular form):  “There is…”  (“There’s…”)

Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.
There is a beach at the lake.

Question:  “Is there…?”

Is there a pet shop at the mall? – Yes, there is.
Is there a library nearby? – No, there isn’t. / No, there’s not.

Negative:  “There is not…” / “There isn’t…” / “There’s not…”

I don’t want to go camping at that park – there isn’t any beach there.

Pattern (plural form):  “There are…”

There are some apples on the table.  Help yourself.
There are five cars waiting in line for the ferry.

Question:  “Are there…?”

Are there any eggs left in the fridge? – Yes, there are (three eggs left).
Are there eight days in a week? – No, there are seven (days in a week).

Also:  “How many…are there?”

How many months are there in a year? – There are 12 months in a year.

Negative:  “There are not…” / “There aren’t…”

Are there any rooms available at this hotel? – No, I’m sorry, there aren’t.

Note:  The phrase “There is…” (“There’s…”) is used to introduce an object or a topic.  After the introduction, we can use the pronoun “it” to refer to the introduced object or topic:   “It is…” (“It’s…”).

There’s a cat sleeping on the porch.  It’s white with black spots. (i.e., the cat is white with black spots)
There’s a museum in the city.  It’s very famous.  (i.e., the museum is famous)

Exercise.  Look at the picture below.  Write sentences about this picture using “There is/are…” or “There isn’t/aren’t…”  in response to the prompts.

Example:

Any swings?  ==> There are swings.

Click for larger image

1.    A lot of people?
2.    A food stand?
3.    A horse?
4.    A roller coaster?
5.    Any trees?
6.    Any benches?
7.    A lamp post?
8.    A trash can?
9.    Any stairs?
10.    An elevator?

Exercise.  Complete the following sentences with there’s / is there / it’s / is it.

Example:

“________ a car with its lights on.”  “________ a red Ford?” ==> “There’s a car with its lights on.”  “Is it a red Ford?”

1.    “________ a nice hotel in Flagstaff.”  “________ close to the airport?”
2.    “________ a pool at the hotel?”  “Yes, ________ an outdoor pool.”
3.    We don’t want to rent that apartment.  ________ too small.
4.    “________ an English class for beginners on Monday nights?”  “Yes, but ________ full.  The class on Tuesday is open, though.”
5.    I like that restaurant by the mall.  ________ got the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.
6.    “________ a spot on your shirt.”  “I’ve brushed it off.  ________ gone now?”
7.    I haven’t heard of that movie.  ________ good?
8.    “________ a bank near the hotel?”  “Yes, ________ just two blocks away.”
9.    “________ a wallet in lost and found.”  “________ brown?”
10.     This ice cream is not very good.  ________ too sweet.

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