Understanding There is and There are

There is and There are are used to indicate the existence or presence of something. The choice depends on whether the noun is singular or plural.

• There is + Singular noun (Correct): There is a book on the table.
• There are + Plural noun (Correct): There are two chairs in the room.
• There is + Plural noun (Incorrect): There is two chairs in the room.

When to Use There is and There are

We use these phrases for:

1. Indicating Existence

Example:

• There is a lot of noise outside. (Correct)
• There are many cars on the street. (Correct)

2. Showing Location

Example:

• There is a good restaurant at the corner. (Correct)
• There are some keys in the drawer. (Correct)

3. Describing Events

Example:

• There is a concert tonight. (Correct)
• There are fireworks in the city. (Correct)

Using There was and There were

There was and There were are the past tense forms of There is and There are.

Examples:

• There was a storm last night. (Correct)
• There were many people at the event. (Correct)

Common Mistakes:

• There was five cars outside. (Incorrect)
• There were a dog in the park. (Incorrect)

Using Articles and Quantifiers

We often combine There is and There are with a, some, or any: