Skip to content
Zorg Space Open the app

English grammar

there is and there are

A0 · Starter Building the sentence Questions 10

The rule

To say that something exists somewhere, English begins with there is for one thing and there are for more than one: There is a fire in the kitchen. There are a lot of people in the shop. The there is not a place — it is just how the sentence starts. To ask, turn it round: Is there a toilet on the train?

Pattern

There is a … · There are two … | Is there a …? · Are there any …?

Examples

  1. There is a fire in the kitchen.

  2. There are a lot of people in the shop.

  3. Is there a toilet on the train?

  4. There is a delay of ten minutes.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Is a toilet here?

    Right: Is there a toilet here?

    The there cannot be left out. English needs it to start this kind of sentence.

  • Wrong: There is many people.

    Right: There are many people.

    More than one → are.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    There _____ a fire in the kitchen.

    1. have
    2. has
    3. are
    4. is
    Show answer

    Answer: D There is a fire in the kitchen.

    One fire → is.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    There _____ a lot of people in the shop.

    1. are
    2. have
    3. is
    4. has
    Show answer

    Answer: A There are a lot of people in the shop.

    people is plural → are.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Is a supermarket near here?
    2. There is a supermarket near here?
    3. Does there a supermarket near here?
    4. Is there a supermarket near here?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Is there a supermarket near here?

    A question turns is and there round.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    1. There does not have hot water.
    2. There is no hot water.
    3. Not there is hot water.
    4. There not is hot water.
    Show answer

    Answer: B There is no hot water.

    The negative is there is no or there is not a.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    _____ there a toilet on the train?

    1. Are
    2. Is
    3. Does
    4. Has
    Show answer

    Answer: B Is there a toilet on the train?

    One toilet → Is there.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    There _____ sixty minutes in an hour.

    1. have
    2. has
    3. are
    4. is
    Show answer

    Answer: C There are sixty minutes in an hour.

    Sixty minutes is plural → are.

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    There is a delay of ten minutes

    Show answer

    Answer: There is a delay of ten minutes.

    There, is, then what exists.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    Is there a queue here

    Show answer

    Answer: Is there a queue here?

    The question starts with Is.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. Is there a pharmacy near here?
    2. There is a pharmacy near here.
    3. There is no pharmacy near here.
    4. Is a pharmacy near here?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Is a pharmacy near here?

    there cannot be dropped.

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Do there any free seats?
    2. Are any free seats?
    3. Are there any free seats?
    4. Is there any free seats?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Are there any free seats?

    With a plural in a question, use Are there any.

Practise this lesson in Zorg Space

In the app every rule becomes interactive practice: instant correction, reviews at the moment you are about to forget, and progress you can see from level to level — free.

Start for free