‘There is’ and ‘There are’

 How do we make statements and questions with ‘There is’ and ‘There are’?
Study the grammar reference chart below.

We use ‘there is’ and ‘there are’ to say that something exists.

 Singular: there is  Plural: there are

There is a tree in the yard. There are two cats on the chair.
Contraction Contraction
There is a tree. = There’s a tree. ~You cannot contract ‘There are’
Negative Negative
There is not a tree in the yard. There are not two cats on the
chair.
Negative Contraction Negative Contraction
There’s not a tree in the yard. There aren’t two cats on the chair.
There isn’t a tree in the yard.
Question Question
Is there a tree in the yard? Are there two cats on the chair?
Any Any
~Use ‘any’ in questions with ~Use ‘any’ in questions with plural
uncountable nouns: nouns:
Q: Is there any water in the cup? Q: Are there any cats?
A: Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t. A: Yes, there are. / No, there
aren’t.
~Use ‘any’ in negative sentences: ~Use ‘any’ in negative sentences:
There isn’t any water in the cup. There aren’t any cats.
How many
How many trees are there (in the yard)?
How many cats are there (on the chair)?

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NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________

GRAMMAR QUIZ
THERE IS and THERE ARE
 Complete these sixteen sentences to score your knowledge of THERE IS & THERE ARE.
1. ... many people standing outside the 9. … four chairs and one table in the
movie theater. dining room.
a) There is a) There is
b) There are b) Are there
c) There c) There are
2. … a big group of people looking 10. (A) Is there anything I can do to help?
at things in the museum. (B) Yes, ….
a) There a) there are
b) There is b) is there
c) There are c) there is
3. There … a small cat playing with 11. Why … so many cars parked near
some toys. the library?
a) are a) are there
b) have b) there
c) is c) is there
4. (A) How many cups …? 12. … a great action movie playing at
(B) There are two cups. the theater. Do you want to see it?
a) are there a) Is there
b) there are b) There is
c) there have c) There are
5. (A) Are there two birds in the tree? 13. I don’t see any buses. Why … any
(B) Yes, …. buses?
a) there is a) aren’t there
b) are there b) are there
c) there are c) there aren’t
6. … three people in the classroom: 14. (A) … a good reason why he is late?
two students and one teacher. (B) Yes, ….
a) There are a) Is there / there is
b) There is b) There are / there is
c) Are there c) Is there / there are
7. (A) … a taxi waiting for us? 15. … any English exams that we have to
(B) Yes, …. study for next week.
a) Is there / is there a) There no
b) Is there / there is b) There isn’t
c) Are there / there is c) There aren’t
8. (A) … any books on the table? 16. Please wait here for a moment. …
(B) No, …. something I have to get in my car.
a) There are / aren’t a) Are there
b) Are there / there aren’t b) There is
c) Are there / there isn’t c) There are

15 – 16 = Excellent 13 – 14 = Good 12 or Less = Study More!

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GRAMMAR QUIZ ALL Things Grammar

Grammar Focus ‘there is’ and ‘there are’

Level Intermediate

ANSWER KEY My Notes

1. B 9. C
2. B 10. C
3. C 11. A
4. A 12. B
5. C 13. A
6. A 14. A
7. B 15. C
8. B 16. B

Grades as
percentages
16 / 16 = 100%
15 / 16 = 94
14 / 16 = 88
13 / 16 = 81
12 / 16 = 75
11 / 16 = 69
10 / 18 = 63
9 / 16 = 56
8 / 16 = 50
7 / 16 = 44
6 / 16 = 38
5 / 16 = 31
4 / 16 = 25
3 / 16 = 19
2 / 16 = 13
1 / 16 = 6
0 / 16 = 0%

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NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________
GRAMMAR WORKSHEET
THERE IS / THERE ARE
There is a pen on the table. There aren’t any pens on the table.

There aren’t (two) pens on the table.

There are (two) pens on the table
There are (three) pens on the table.

Is there a pen on the table? Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.

Are there (two) pens on the table? Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.

 Fill in the blanks below to complete the sentences.

1. _______________________ a library next to the park.

2. All the students went home. _______________________ students in the classroom.

3. _______________________ 50 states in the United States.

4. No, _______________________ polar bears at the South Pole.

5. A: _____________________ a message for me? B: No, ______________________.

6. Why _______________________ so many cars in the parking lot?

7. A: I’m hungry. B: _______________________ a restaurant across the street.

8. How many days _______________________ in March, thirty or thirty-one?

9. _______________________ a few things I have to do this afternoon.

10. A: _______________________ a post office nearby? B: I’m sorry, I don’t know.

11. _______________________ something I can help you with?

12. No, _______________________ public holidays next month.

13. How many countries _______________________ in the world?

14. _______________________ a woman in the picture. She is smiling.

15. _______________________ only three more days before the exam. Let’s study!
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GRAMMAR WORKSHEET ALL Things Grammar

Grammar Focus There is / There are

Level Beginner to Elementary

ANSWER KEY My Notes

1. There is 9. There are

2. There aren’t any 10. Is there
3. There are 11. Is there
4. There aren’t any 12. there aren’t any
5. Is there / there isn’t 13. are there
6. are there 14. There is
7. There is 15. There are
8. are there

Grades as
percentages
15 / 15 = 100%
14 / 15 = 93
13 / 15 = 87
12 / 15 = 80
11 / 15 = 73
10 / 15 = 67
9 / 15 = 60
8 / 15 = 53
7 / 15 = 47 Grammar Note:
6 / 15 = 40
5 / 15 = 33 “There isn’t a pen on the table” is also
4 / 15 = 27 possible. However, “There aren’t any pens
3 / 15 = 20 on the table” is much more commonly used.
2 / 15 = 13
1 / 15 = 7
0 / 15 = 0%

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