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There is / there are, part 2 of 4

There Isn't and There Aren't: Saying There Is None

To say there is none, use there isn't for one thing and there aren't for more than one: there isn't a bank, there aren't any taxis.

A1 · 12 minBefore:There is / there are

The idea

What there isn't / there aren't means

It says that something is not there. It works like the negative of be: not after is or are, usually in the short form.

  1. One thing that is not there. There isn't a pool.
  2. More than one. There aren't any buses.
  3. With no, and no not. There is no soap.

When to use it

To say what is missing, what ran out, or what a place does not have. These expressions go with it:

When something ran out

  • there isn't any milk
  • there isn't any time
  • there aren't any seats

With no

  • there is no signal
  • there are no taxis
  • there is no reason
  • there is no answer

To calm someone down

  • there isn't a problem
  • there isn't any rush
  • there's nothing to worry about

Examples

  • What your neighborhood is missing

    There isn't a bank near my house.

  • Something that ran out

    There isn't any coffee.

  • More than one thing

    There aren't any chairs.

  • With no

    There are no buses on Sundays.

  • The long form

    There is not enough space.

How to build it

3 steps

  1. Choose is or areAs in the affirmative: one thing, is; more than one, are:There are
  2. Add notAfter is or are, usually in the short form:There aren't
  3. With more than one or uncountable things, anyAny goes before the thing:There aren't any eggs.

With not

  1. ThereThere
  2. isn't / aren'taren't
  3. (any) + thingany cups
  4. placein the cabinet.

With no

  1. ThereThere
  2. is / areare
  3. no + thingno stairs.

From affirmative to negative

Not after is or are

One thingThere is a bankThere isn't a bankis + not
  • there is a parkthere isn't a park
  • there is a gymthere isn't a gym
  • there is an elevatorthere isn't an elevator
More than oneThere are banksThere aren't any banksare + not, and any
  • there are treesthere aren't any trees
  • there are shopsthere aren't any shops
  • there are kidsthere aren't any kids
Things you cannot countThere is riceThere isn't any riceis + not, and any
  • there is gasthere isn't any gas
  • there is lightthere isn't any light
  • there is moneythere isn't any money

The rule

Two ways to say there is none

With notWith noMeaning
There isn't any bread.There is no bread.same meaning
There aren't any eggs.There are no eggs.same meaning

How to pronounce it

  • there isn't

    /ðɛr ˈɪzənt/

    Isn't has two syllables: /ˈɪzənt/.

  • there aren't

    /ðɛr ɑrnt/

    Aren't is one syllable: /ɑrnt/.

Check

There (blank) any people in the office. Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with it isn't

There isn't a pool.

It does not exist

It isn't big.

A description

There isn't says that something does not exist; it isn't describes something you already named.

Isn't and aren't

In real life

After not, use any with more than one thing or with things you cannot count: there aren't any, there isn't any. With one thing, a is enough: there isn't a.

Frequently asked questions

There isn't any or there is no?

Both mean the same. There is no sounds a little stronger: There is no money. What you cannot say is there isn't no.

Can you say there is not?

Yes, it is the long form, and it sounds insistent. In speech people say there isn't.

Why any and not some?

Because a negative with not takes any: there aren't any tickets. Some goes mostly in the affirmative; see the lesson on some and any.

In short

  • One thing: there isn't a bank.
  • More than one: there aren't any taxis.
  • You can also say: there is no time.
  • Never two negatives: there isn't any, not there isn't no.
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By Bryan López ·
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