THERE WAS-THERE WERE

PRESENT(SINGULAR) THERE IS THERE ISN’T

PAST(SINGULAR) THERE WAS THERE WASN’T
Examples: countable There was a big party There wasn’t a
yesterday. concert last week.
Examples: uncountable There was some sugar on There wasn’t any
the table. sugar on the table.
PRESENT(PLURAL) THERE ARE THERE AREN’T
PAST (PLURAL) THERE WERE THERE WEREN’T
Examples There were some books There weren’t any
on the table people in the office.