The Right Way to Say 'There Is' and 'There Are'

If you’ve ever said a sentence like “There is many people in the park” or “There are a cat on the sofa,” you already know how confusing these two small phrases can be. The difference between there is and there are may look small, but it affects how natural your English sounds. Once you understand how they really work, you’ll start using them correctly without even thinking about it.

Let’s walk through what they mean, when to use each one, and some simple tricks to help you remember. You’ll also find a few short tables and examples to make it easier to visualize everything.

Singular subjects: Use 'There is' for one person or thing.

1. The Golden Rule: Singular vs. Plural

The most basic rule is about quantity. We use there is for one thing (singular) and there are for more than one thing (plural). It’s like a balance scale—you just need to count what comes next.

There is (Singular):

• "There is a cat on the sofa."
• "There is a new restaurant in town."
• "There is one student absent today."

There are (Plural):

• "There are three birds on the branch."
• "There are many people waiting."
• "There are several cars in the parking lot."

Think of it as identifying what exists. If the noun that follows is singular, the verb stays singular. If the noun is plural, the verb follows suit.

2. The Tricky Part: Uncountable Nouns

This is where many intermediate learners make mistakes. Nouns like water, money, sugar, and furniture cannot be counted with numbers (you don't say "one water, two waters"). In English, uncountable nouns always use 'There is'.

Always use singular forms for things you can't count individually:

• "There is some milk in the fridge."
• "There is too much traffic today."
• "There is no information about the flight."
• "There is beautiful furniture in this room."

Even if there is a lot of something (like a whole ocean of water), because "water" is an uncountable noun, we still use there is.

3. Questions and Negatives

When you want to know if something exists, you simply swap the order of the words. To say something doesn't exist, you add "not."

Questions:

• "Is there a question you want to ask?"
• "Are there any cookies left?"

Negatives:

• "There isn't any milk." (isn't = is not)
• "There aren't many cars today." (aren't = are not)

Using any in questions and negatives is a very common way to sound more like a native speaker. Example: "Are there any chairs?" or "There isn't any sugar."

4. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Speaking quickly often leads to these common errors. By slowing down and checking the noun that follows, you can catch them before they leave your mouth.

Make It Stick

The best way to remember these structures is to use them to describe your world right now. Try these simple habits:

• The Room Check: Look around. Say one thing using "There is" and one using "There are." (e.g., "There is a lamp," "There are two windows.")
• The Fridge Challenge: Describe what's in your fridge using uncountable nouns. (e.g., "There is some juice," "There is no butter.")

Conclusion

Mastering there is and there are is essential for describing what you see and explaining what exists in any situation. Whether you are talking about singular objects, plural groups, or tricky uncountable nouns, just remember to match your verb to the subject. With a bit of mindful practice, these phrases will become a natural part of your daily English conversation.