There is or there are? Saying what exists

The Turkish word “var” has two forms in English: “there is” for something singular or uncountable (“There is a cat on the sofa.”, “There is milk in the fridge.”) and “there are” for plural things (“There are two books on the table.”). The noun that follows decides which one you use.

Negative: “there isn't / there aren't”

To say something does not exist, use “there isn't” and “there aren't”. With uncountable and plural nouns, these sentences often take “any”: “There isn't any milk.”, “There aren't any eggs.” With a singular countable noun, keep “a”: “There isn't a park near my house.”

Questions: “is there / are there?”

In questions, “is” and “are” move to the front: “Is there a bank near here?”, “Are there any eggs?” Short answers: “Yes, there is.” / “No, there aren't.” To ask about numbers: “How many students are there in your class?”

Common mistakes for Turkish speakers

A common mistake is translating “var” with “have”: not “In my room has a bed” but “There is a bed in my room”. “Have” is for possession: “I have a bed.” The second mistake is using “is” with plurals: not “There is two chairs” but “There are two chairs”.

A short exercise

Describe the room you are in with five sentences: three with “there is / there are” and two with “there isn't / there aren't”. Then write two “Is there…? / Are there any…?” questions about your kitchen.

To keep going, see A, an, or the? Articles in English and Some or any, much or many? Talking about quantity.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between “there is” and “it is”? “There is” says something exists; “it is” describes something already known: “There is a cat. It is black.”

Which one do I use when a list mixes singular and plural? In everyday speech, look at the first noun: “There is a sofa and two chairs.”