There is or there are? How to choose

Short answer: Use there is to say that one thing exists in a place, and there are for more than one. Choose the verb by the noun that comes next: There is a ball under the chair. There are two ducks here. Make a question with Is there...? or Are there...?, and do not use have to say something is in a place.

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At a glance

In short

• there is + one thing. there are + many things.
• Questions: Is there ...? Are there ...?
• Do not use have to say something is in a place.

What is the rule for “there is / there are”?

The rule

Use there is for one thing. Use there are for many things.

How it looks

there is + a / an + one thing · there are + many things

What it means

They tell that something is in a place.

When to use it

Use them to say what is in a place.

How it works

• Look at the noun after there is or there are. One thing: is. More than one: are.
• In speech, there is often becomes there’s: There’s a cat on the bed.
• For questions, put is or are first: Is there a clock? Are there any shops?
• Use there is to say something exists. Use have to say who owns something.

Examples of “there is / there are”

• There is a ball under the chair.
  One ball: there is.
• There are two ducks here.
  Two ducks: there are.
• Is there a clock?
  Yes, there is. / No, there isn't.
• Are there two cats?
  Yes, there are. / No, there aren't.
• There is a park near my house.
  One park: there is.
• There are three books on the desk.
  Three books: there are.
• Is there any milk?
  Question: Is there...? with milk, which is uncountable.
• There isn’t a bank here.
  Negative: there isn’t.

Common mistakes with “there is / there are”

• Have a dog in the garden. → There is a dog in the garden.
  To say something is in a place, use there is.
• There have many monkeys. → There are many monkeys.
  Use are for many things.
• There is two birds. → There are two birds.
  two birds is many, so are.
• There are a cat on the bed. → There is a cat on the bed.
  One cat: there is.
• It has a river in my town. → There is a river in my town.
  To say something exists, use there is.

Exceptions: watch out

• There's
  There is can be short: There's a cat on the bed.

There is, it is and have

These are often confused. There is says that something exists. It is describes a known thing. Have says who owns something.

See also: have and has

Check yourself

1. Fill the gap: “There ___ five apples.”
   Show the answer

   are five apples is many.

2. Fill the gap: “___ there a clock?”
   Show the answer

   Is One clock: Is there...?

3. Fix: “There have many monkeys.”
   Show the answer

   There are many monkeys. Use there are for many things.

How to practice “there is / there are”

The interactive version adds step-by-step help, spoken instructions and a quick check. One rule card, one sound lesson and the first lesson of every stone are free to try; the rest is part of Full Access. See Full Access.

• Practice lesson: there is / there are

Questions

What if the list begins with a singular noun, such as “a pen and two books”?

In speech, people often say There is a pen and two books. In careful writing, match the first noun.

Is “there’s” correct with plurals?

In speech people often say There’s two cats, but in writing use There are two cats.

How do I say there is nothing?

There is nothing in the box. Or There isn’t anything in the box.

More Connecting Ideas rules

• Joining words: and, but, or, so: and, but, or and so join two ideas of the same kind.
• because: giving reasons: because gives the reason. It answers the question Why?
• Past: was and were: was and were tell about the past. Use was with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we and they.
• Past simple: regular -ed: To talk about the past, most action words add -ed. It is the same for every person.
• Past simple: irregular verbs and did: Some action words have a special past form. After did or didn't, use the plain action word.
• Comparing two things: -er and more … than: To compare two things, short words add -er and we say than. Long words use more … than.

Used in these writing topics

• Connected sentences: descriptive
• Descriptive paragraphs

Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G3: Connecting Ideas. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.

Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.

Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30

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