There is / There are

For Low Level Students

Dear students,

Yesterday we learned phrases "there is" and " there are". Here is some more information for you to review this grammar. Read everything carefully, memorize information, do exercises, practice and watch videos.

Irena

As we talked about this yesterday, "there is" and "there are" are common phrase in English. We use them to indicate that something "exists" or something is in a certain location. The main subject goes after "there is" and "there are”.

Examples:

There is an apple on the table.

There are some apples on the table. 
 

In other words, we use phrases "there is" and "there are" to state the existence or presence of something or someone.

Examples:

There is a clock on the wall.

There's a clock on the wall. (short form)

There are six desks in the classroom.
There are four students in the class.
There are two whiteboards in the classroom.
(no short form for "there are")

Here are Patterns for questions.

Singular:

Is there a ___________ (something singular) in the classroom?
Is there some __________ (something non-count) in the kitchen?

Examples:
Is there a TV in the classroom?
Is there some coffee in the kitchen?

Short answers:

Positive - Yes, there is.
Negative - No, there isn't.

And plural:

Are there (any) ___________(s) in the classroom?

Short answers:

Positive - Yes, there are.
Negative - No, there aren't.

Here are Patterns for sentences.

Singular:

There is a ___________ in the classroom.

There's a ___________ in the classroom. (short)

There is some _________ in the kitchen.
There's some _________ in the kitchen. (short)

And plural:

There are ___________(s) in the classroom.

Now, look around the classroom and write 5 "there is" sentences and 5 "there are" sentences. We will check them later.

Now watch this video.

Please, read information about how to ask questions.

We start the "Yes/No" Questions with a verb.  

"Is there..?" and "Are there..?" 

Verb Be + there + subject?

Example:

Question (Singular):

Is there a map in the classroom?

Question (Plural):

Are there any maps in the classroom?

How do you answer "yes" to these questions?

Yes, there is. 

Yes, there are.

Example:

Short answer (Singular):

Yes, there is.

Short answer (Plural):

Yes, there are.

How do you answer "no" to these questions?

No, there is not. 

No, there isn't. (short)

No, there are not.

No, there aren't. (short)

Short answer (Singular):

No, there isn't.

Short answer (Plural):

No, there aren't.

Please, rewrite the following sentences into questions:

1. There is a new job at the factory.

2. There is an airport in this city.

3. There are many people living in this city.

4. There is a new post office in city.

5. There are many computers in the classroom.

Please, read information about how to ask "How many..?" questions.

We start questions with "how many..?"  and use a plural subject.

How many + subject + are there + location?

Example:

Question:  

How many states are there on Virgina’s borders?

Please, rewrite the following sentences into questions:

1. There are 50 states in the United States.

2. There are 15 states in the South.

3. Forty-nine percent of this city residents are 25-40 years old.

4. There are thirteen students in class today.

5. Two states are on Florida’s northern border.

Please, do these exercises:

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Exercise 6


Exercise 7

Here is a picture by a famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Please, look carefully at the picture and describe the bedroom writing sentences with "there is" and "there are".

 

Now, here is a video. Please, watch it.

 

To help Spanish speaking students understand the grammar, here is a video in Spanish.

 

There is a summary of the grammar in Spanish.

 

Now, look at this picture. To describe this picture, please, write sentences with "there is" and "there are".

Now, here is a funny site. Click on this link, go there, read everything and memorize, play some games.

Here is a link. Click here

Start with #1 – Positive Form. Then go to #2 – Negative Form, #3 – Questions and #4 – Short Answers.

After you learn and memorized everything in this post, check yourselves. Do this Exercise.

Exercise

 At the end, look at this picture and tell your classmates what you see on this picture. Use "there is" and "there are".

 Have a great day!