There Is or There Are: Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar
Quick Answer
Use there is before one thing. Use there are before two or more things. For example: “There is a cat on the bed” but “There are two cats on the bed.”
There Is and There Are — See the Pattern
Look at these sentences. Can you see when we use there is and when we use there are?
- There is a book on the table.
- There are three books on the table.
- There is a problem with the car.
- There are many students in the class.
Did you see it? When we talk about one thing, we use there is. When we talk about more than one, we use there are.
Here is the full pattern:
| Use | Before | Example |
|---|---|---|
| There is | one thing | There is a dog in the garden. |
| There are | two or more things | There are dogs in the garden. |
When to Use There Is and When to Use There Are
Look at the word after “there is” or “there are.” That word tells you which one to use.
Use there is with:
- One thing: There is a cup on the table.
- A name: There is a new message for you.
- Things you cannot count (water, milk, sugar): There is some water in the glass.
Use there are with:
- Two or more things: There are five people in the room.
- Many or lots of: There are many shops on this street.
- Some + plural: There are some eggs in the fridge.
Short forms: When we speak, we often say there’s instead of “there is.” For example: “There’s a shop on the corner.” But “there are” has no short form.
Easy way to remember: Look at the word after “there.” Is it one thing? Use there is. Is it more than one? Use there are.
The Rule in One Line: One thing = there is. More than one = there are.
How to Use There Is and There Are in Everyday English
- There is a good film on TV tonight. (one film — use there is)
- There are two eggs in the fridge. (two eggs — use there are)
- There is a bus stop near my house. (one bus stop — use there is)
- There are lots of people at the park today. (many people — use there are)
- There is some milk in the bottle. (you cannot count milk — use there is)
You are doing great. Now let us look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With There Is and There Are
Even advanced learners mix up there is and there are sometimes — so if you get confused, you are not alone.
Mistake 1: Using “there is” with plural words
If the word after “there” means more than one, you need there are.
✗ There is many shops on this street.
✓ There are many shops on this street.
How to remember: “Many” always means more than one. More than one = there are.
Mistake 2: Using “there are” with things you cannot count
Some words like water, milk, sugar, and money cannot be counted one by one. These words always use there is.
✗ There are some water in the glass.
✓ There is some water in the glass.
How to remember: Can you say “one water, two waters”? No — so use there is. Other words like this: bread, rice, money, music, traffic.
Mistake 3: Mixing up “there”, “their”, and “they’re”
These three words sound the same, but they mean different things. Only “there” is used to say something exists.
✗ Their is a shop on the corner.
✓ There is a shop on the corner.
How to remember: “There” points to a place or says something exists. “Their” means “belonging to them.” “They’re” means “they are.”
Test Yourself: There Is or There Are?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ a park near my house.
2. _______ many children in the playground.
3. _______ some bread on the table.
4. _______ three bedrooms in our flat.
5. _______ a problem with the computer.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned when to use there is and there are. That is one more grammar rule you will never get wrong again.
But what about sentences without “there”? When do you say “the cat is on the chair” and when do you say “the cats are on the chair”? And what about tricky words like “news” or “team” — do they use is or are? The answer might surprise you.
Next lesson: Is or Are? 3 Simple Tips to Always Get It Right
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My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
