There is & There are Exercises – Grammar Practice and Examples

What Do "There is" and "There are" Mean?

Use "there is" and "there are" to talk about the existence or presence of something. Use "there is" with singular nouns (one item) and "there are" with plural nouns (more than one item).

When to Use "There is" and "There are"

How to Form Sentences with "There is" and "There are"

• There is + singular noun:
  • There is a pen on my desk.
  • There is one person waiting outside.
• There are + plural noun:
  • There are three students in the class.
  • There are many apples in the bowl.

Examples in Sentences

• There is a dog in the yard.
• There are two cars in the driveway.
• There is some milk in the fridge.
• There are books on the shelf.

Quick Tips to Remember

• Use "there is" for singular nouns (one thing).
• Use "there are" for plural nouns (more than one).
• If unsure, ask yourself, "Is it one or many?" to choose correctly.