When do I use "There is / There are" and when do I use "It is"?

"There is/are" = existence (something exists). "It is" = impersonal subject for weather, time, or when a clause is the real subject. Never: "is raining" without IT.

What is the most common mistake with "There is / There are" and "It is"?

"Is raining" is wrong: English always requires the subject IT. "It is raining." And "There is important to attend" is wrong: for "it is important" use IT: "It is important to attend." The difference: THERE IS/ARE = something exists; IT IS = weather, time, or impersonal subject.

How do I remember the difference between "There is / There are" and "It is"?

Does something exist? "There is/are a problem". Is it about weather, time, or distance? "It is".

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There is / There arevsIt is

'There is/are' introduces the existence of something; 'it is' introduces time, distance, temperature, or impersonal situations.

Side-by-side comparison

There is / There are

structure

"It" is used to talk about weather, time, dates, temperature, or to introduce a sentence where the real subject comes later: "It is raining", "It is hard to say".

There is a great bakery near the station that makes fresh croissants every morning.
There are three new students in the class this term, they all seem really nice.
Is there a pharmacy nearby? I need to pick up some medicine before it closes tonight.

It is

structure

"There" is used to announce the existence of something: "There is a problem". It does not describe weather or introduce sentences with a delayed subject.

It is cold outside today, you should take a coat if you are planning to go out.
It is already half past ten, we should head home before it gets too late tonight.
It is a long way from here to the coast, at least three hours by car on a good day.

Common mistake

•"Is raining" is wrong: English always requires the subject IT.
•"It is raining." And "There is important to attend" is wrong: for "it is important" use IT: "It is important to attend." The difference: THERE IS/ARE = something exists; IT IS = weather, time, or impersonal subject.

Trick to remember it

•Does something exist? "There is/are a problem".
•Is it about weather, time, or distance? "It is".

Quick rule

•"There is/are" = existence (something exists).
•"It is" = impersonal subject for weather, time, or when a clause is the real subject.
•Never: "is raining" without IT.

Did you know?

The "it" in "It is raining" is called an expletive (or dummy) subject: English needs a subject in every sentence, even when there is nothing for it to refer to. Languages that allow you to drop the subject are called null-subject languages, and English is not one of them, which is why you cannot say "is raining". French (il pleut) and German (es regnet) work the same way.