The question "What are 'There Is' and 'There Are' in English?" is one of the most frequently asked grammar questions by those beginning to learn English. "There is" and "there are" are fundamental structures used in English to indicate the existence of something. Frequently encountered in daily conversations, writing, and exams, learning the correct use of "there is" and "there are" is crucial.

The question of "What are 'There Is' and 'There Are' in English?" can be challenging for learners, especially since it doesn't perfectly match Turkish. While the word "var" (there is/exists) alone is sufficient in Turkish, English always distinguishes between singular and plural nouns. Therefore, understanding the difference between "there is" and "there are" is a fundamental building block of English sentence construction.

What Do "There Is" and "There Are" Mean?

"There is" and "there are" are translated into Turkish as "vardır" (there is/exists) or "var" (there are). However, there is an important difference in usage:

"There is" → Used for singular nouns

"There are" → Used for plural nouns

This structure generally expresses the presence of something in a place.

Example:

There is a book on the table.

There are two books on the table.

When is "There Is" Used?

"There is" is used with singular and uncountable nouns. If there is only one thing mentioned in the sentence, "there is" must be used.

Examples:

There is a car outside.

There is a problem.

There is water in the glass.

In English, singular nouns with articles like a, an, and the are mostly used with "there is".

When is "There Are" Used?

"There are" is used for plural nouns. If there is more than one thing mentioned in the sentence, the correct structure is "there are".

Examples:

There are many people here.

There are three chairs in the room.

There are students in the class.

Expressions like many, some, and a lot of support the plural structure and are therefore usually seen with "there are".

Negative Sentences with "There Is" and "There Are"

Negative sentences in English are formed by adding "not".

Structure:

there is not / there are not

Examples:

There is not any milk.

There are not enough chairs.

Abbreviations are common in everyday use:

there is not → there isn’t

there are not → there aren’t

There Is – There Are Question Sentences

English there is and there are question sentences are formed by placing the auxiliary verb at the beginning.

Examples:

Is there a problem?

Are there any questions?

This structure is used very frequently, especially in spoken English.

Common Mistakes in Using There Is – There Are

The most common mistakes made regarding there is and there are are are:

Using there are with singular nouns

Using there is with plural nouns

Confusing the negative and question structures

Therefore, the logic of there is – there are should be reinforced with plenty of examples.

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