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There is / there are, part 3 of 4

Is There and Are There: Asking If Something Exists

To ask if there is something, put is or are before there: Is there a bank near here? Are there any taxis?

A1 · 12 minBefore:There isn't / there aren't

The idea

What Is there / Are there means

It asks whether there is something. The order changes, as with to be: is or are goes before there.

  1. One thing. Is there a bathroom upstairs?
  2. More than one. Are there any clean cups?
  3. To answer. Yes, there is. No, there aren't.

When to use it

To ask for information in a new place, a store, or a hotel, and to ask how many there are. These expressions go with it:

On the street

  • Is there a restroom here?
  • Is there a bus downtown?
  • Is there an ATM near here?

In a store or a restaurant

  • Is there any more?
  • Are there any free tables?
  • Is there Wi-Fi?
  • Is there a discount?

To count

  • How many people are there?
  • Is there a waiting list?
  • Is there anything else?

Examples

  • In a new place

    Is there a pharmacy near here?

  • More than one thing

    Are there any vegetarian dishes?

  • Something you cannot count

    Is there any hot water?

  • To count

    How many teams are there?

  • The short answer

    No, there aren't.

How to build it

3 steps

  1. Start with is or areIs for one thing or something you cannot count; are for more than one:Are
  2. Add thereRight after it:Are there
  3. Finish with the thing and the placeWith more than one or uncountable things, any:Are there any eggs in the fridge?

Question

  1. Is / AreIs
  2. therethere
  3. (a / any) + thinga gym
  4. place ?in the hotel?

Short answer

  1. Yes / No,No,
  2. therethere
  3. is / isn't / are / aren'tisn't.

With how many

  1. How many + thingsHow many floors
  2. are thereare there
  3. place ??

From statement to question

Is or are moves before there

One thingThere is a lake.Is there a lake?is goes first
  • There is a menu.Is there a menu?
  • There is a store.Is there a store?
  • There is a fee.Is there a fee?
More than oneThere are trains.Are there any trains?are goes first, and any
  • There are flights.Are there any flights?
  • There are tours.Are there any tours?
  • There are rules.Are there any rules?

The rule

Short answers

QuestionYesNo
Is there a bus?Yes, there is.No, there isn't.
Are there any taxis?Yes, there are.No, there aren't.

How to pronounce it

  • is there

    /ɪz ðɛr/

    The s in is sounds like /z/, and the th is voiced /ð/.

  • are there

    /ɑr ðɛr/

    Are is one syllable; your voice goes up at the end of the question.

Check

(blank) there any eggs in the fridge? Which word goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with Is it...?

Is there a pool?

Does it exist?

Is it big?

What is it like?

Is there...? asks if something exists; Is it...? asks what something you already named is like.

Questions with to be

In real life

With more than one thing or with things you cannot count, the question takes any; with one thing, a or an. That is what sounds natural.

Frequently asked questions

How do you ask how many there are?

With How many, the plural noun, and are there: How many tables are there? For things you cannot count it is How much... is there?, which has its own lesson.

Do you answer with do?

No: you answer with there and the same verb. Is there a fee? No, there isn't. Are there any rules? Yes, there are.

Why Yes, there is and not Yes, there's?

Because a yes short answer ends with the verb, and that verb does not contract. In a no answer it does: No, there isn't.

In short

  • One thing: Is there a bus? More: Are there any taxis?
  • Answer with there: Yes, there is. No, there aren't.
  • To count: How many... are there?
  • No do and no have: Is there Wi-Fi?
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By Bryan López ·
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