Have you ever been confused about when to use “there is” and when to use “there are”? You’re not alone. These phrases may seem tricky at first, but they’re actually very simple once you understand the basic rule. In this guide, we’ll break it down in the easiest possible way—no complicated grammar terms, just clear explanations and real-life examples to help you master it once and for all.
Why Do We Use “There is” and “There are”?
We use “there is” and “there are” to tell someone that something exists or is present. These expressions are helpful when we want to introduce or point out something for the first time in a sentence.
For example:
- There is a diary on the table. (You are telling someone the diary exists there.)
- There are many spectators on the ground. (You are letting someone know about the people present.)
Basic Rule: Singular vs Plural
- Use “There is” for ‘singular nouns. (There is one valid reason for your anger.)
- Use “There are” for ‘plural noun. (There are several valid reasons for your anger.)
Uncountable Nouns
Use “There is” with Uncountable nouns like water, information, sugar etc.
There is not much water to quench my thirst
There is still some money left to buy the remaining items.
There is no information about the departure time of this train.
Questions & Negative
- Is there any chance of entering the stadium?
- Are there sufficient seats available?
- Is there a blood donation camp happening nearby today?
- Aren’t there verifiable document before the court?
- There is not a single media outlet that reports unbiasedly.
- There are not many cases of mismanagement in the office
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- There are news of violence .(Incorrect)
- There is news of violence. (Correct)
- There are a book on the table . (Incorrect)
- There is a book on the table. (Correct)
Want to go deeper and understand why we use “there” like this? Check out our post on Introductory ‘There’ and Dummy Subjects.