Basics. There Is vs. There Are: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓The Basic Rule: Stating What Exists
In English, we use there is and there are to introduce the fact that something exists in a particular place. The choice between is and are depends entirely on the noun that comes immediately after the verb.
- If the noun is singular (one thing), use there is.
- If the noun is plural (more than one thing), use there are.
Look at how the verb changes based on the noun that follows it:
- There is a glowing piece of cheese in the fridge. (Singular)
- There are three alien footprints outside. (Plural)
Forming Negatives and Questions
To say something does not exist, simply add not to the verb. In everyday English, we almost always use the contractions isn't and aren't. When talking about plural or uncountable nouns in the negative, we usually include the word any.
- There isn't any ectoplasm on the ceiling.
- There aren't any clean plates left for dessert.
To ask a question, you must invert the word order. Swap the verb and the word there:
- Is there a luxury swimming pool at this resort?
- Are there any safe zones in this city?
Edge Case: Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are substances or concepts we cannot count with numbers (like water, air, advice, cheese, milk). Even if there is a massive, ocean-sized amount of an uncountable noun, we always treat it grammatically as singular. You must use there is (or there isn't), never there are.
✅ There is some cold white liquid in the bottle. ❌ There are some cold white liquid in the bottle.
The "List" Exception (Rule of Proximity)
What happens if you are describing a room with several different items? If you add them all up, you have a plural amount of things. However, English uses the "rule of proximity" for these lists. This means the verb only needs to agree with the noun that is closest to it (the very first item in your list).
If the first item in your list is singular, use there is: ✅ There is a sofa and two large windows in the living room. ❌ There are a sofa and two large windows in the living room.
If the first item in your list is plural, use there are: ✅ There are two large windows and a sofa in the living room.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A very frequent mistake for learners is confusing there are with they are.
- There are introduces the existence of something new that hasn't been talked about yet.
- They are is a subject and verb used to describe a specific plural noun that you have already established in the conversation.
If you are pointing out something's existence for the first time, you must use there.
✅ Look out the window! There are three alien footprints outside. ❌ Look out the window! They are three alien footprints outside.
Another common error is forgetting the word there entirely. This often happens when learners translate directly from languages that use a single verb to express existence (like hay in Spanish, c'è in Italian, or il y a in French). In English, the "dummy subject" there is strictly required.
✅ Is there enough cake for everyone? ❌ Is enough cake for everyone?
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are There is a half-eaten pizza under the bed. and There are suspicious socks hanging from the ceiling fan.
We use there is with singular nouns (like a pizza or a smell).
We use there are with plural nouns (like socks or cups).
"There is three dirty coffee cups" is incorrect because cups is plural. "There are a strange smell" is incorrect because a smell is singular!
Question 2
Help the overly optimistic travel agent describe a rather "unique" holiday destination by dragging the correct words into the blanks.
You might wonder if there is a luxury swimming pool at this resort. Sadly, no, but there are three beautiful mud puddles right in the parking lot for you to enjoy!
You might wonder if there is a luxury swimming pool at this resort.
We use "there is" because it is followed by the singular noun phrase "a luxury swimming pool."
Sadly, no, but there are three beautiful mud puddles right in the parking lot for you to enjoy!
We use "there are" because it is followed by the plural noun phrase "three beautiful mud puddles."
Question 3
Complete the astronaut's panicked radio transmission.
Houston, we have a situation. _____ three alien footprints right outside the spaceship!
The correct answer is There are.
We use the existential there are to state the existence of a plural noun ("three alien footprints"). We use "there is" for singular nouns, and "they are" is used to describe a specific subject rather than introduce its existence.
Question 4
there are three yellow fruits...
We use "there are" with plural countable nouns (three yellow fruits).
there is some cold white liquid...
We use "there is" with uncountable nouns (liquid).
there are ten small, round eggs.
We use "there are" with plural countable nouns (ten eggs).
there is no space...
We use "there is" with uncountable nouns (space).
Question 5
Help the hungry college student take inventory of their bizarrely stocked mini-fridge by dragging the correct phrases into the blanks.
Inside my roommate's chaotic mini-fridge, there are five empty ketchup bottles. But miraculously, right in the back, there is a fresh slice of pepperoni pizza!
Inside my roommate's chaotic mini-fridge, there are five empty ketchup bottles.
We use "there are" because "five empty ketchup bottles" is a plural noun phrase.
But miraculously, right in the back, there is a fresh slice of pepperoni pizza!
We use "there is" because "a fresh slice" is a singular noun phrase.
Question 6
there is a beautiful green sofa.
We use "there is" for a single item (a beautiful green sofa).
there are two large windows...
We use "there are" for plural items (two large windows).
there is a brand-new refrigerator.
We use "there is" for a single item (a brand-new refrigerator).
there are three sleepy cats...
We use "there are" for plural items (three sleepy cats).
Question 7
Complete the ghost hunter's spooky (but slightly disappointing) observation log by dragging the correct negative phrases into the blanks.
According to my ghost-hunting equipment, there isn't any ectoplasm on the ceiling. Furthermore, I can confirm that there aren't any monsters under the bed, just a massive pile of dirty laundry!
According to my ghost-hunting equipment, there isn't any ectoplasm on the ceiling.
We use "there isn't" (there is not) because "ectoplasm" is an uncountable noun, which takes a singular verb.
Furthermore, I can confirm that there aren't any monsters under the bed, just a massive pile of dirty laundry!
We use "there aren't" (there are not) because "monsters" is a plural noun.
Question 8
The correct answers are There is only one rollercoaster, and it goes very slowly. and There are no exciting prizes at the game booths.
The choice between there is and there are depends entirely on the noun that immediately follows it.
- There is + singular noun (one rollercoaster, a massive line)
- There are + plural noun (no exciting prizes, angry mosquitoes)
Even though a "massive line" has many people in it, the word line is singular, so it requires "there is."
Question 9
Is there enough cake...
We use "Is there" to ask a question about an uncountable noun (cake).
are there enough chairs...
We use "are there" to ask a question about plural countable nouns (chairs).
there are only two pizzas...
We use "there are" to make a statement about plural countable nouns (two pizzas). Notice this is a statement, not a question, so the word order is subject-verb.
Question 10
Help the frustrated college student leave a sticky note for their roommate.
Please clean your shelf! _____ a strange, glowing piece of moldy cheese in the fridge, and it's scaring me.
The correct answer is There is.
We use there is to state the existence of a singular noun ("a strange, glowing piece"). "There are" would be used if the noun were plural.
Question 11
The correct answers are Are there any tomatoes left in the fridge? and There aren't any clean plates for the dessert.
When asking questions or making negative statements, the same rules apply:
Use is there / there isn't for singular and uncountable nouns (e.g., a chef).
Use are there / there aren't for plural nouns (e.g., tomatoes, plates, potatoes).
"Is there any potatoes" is wrong because potatoes is plural. "There aren't a chef" is wrong because a chef is a singular noun.
Question 12
Complete the time traveler's urgent question to a local in the year 2099.
Excuse me, _____ any safe zones in this city where the mutant pigeons can't reach us?
The correct answer is are there.
To form a question about existence, we invert the subject and verb (from "there are" to "are there"). Because "safe zones" is plural, we must use the plural verb are.