9

There is / There are

The Perfect House

Focus on Grammar 1 Part VIII, Unit 26 By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Our New House

Honey, I found the perfect house. You are going to love it. Oh, thats great! Tell me all about it.

Our New House

Theres air There is a big conditioning. There are good backyard. schools nearby.

Present Singular
Use there is or theres to state facts about a person or thing.

There is a big backyard.

There is air conditioning.

Present Plural
Use there are if the noun is plural.

There are a lot of windows. There are good schools nearby.

The Perfect House

There arent any isnt a trees, There but theres a There isnt a fireplace, but Theres even an extra but a theres a big swimming pool, basketball court. theres big space for my bedroom for my mother! driveway for my car. flat screen TV. Are Is there Isthere there a a in Hmmm . . . trees Great. swimming fireplace? the yard? pool?

Negative
To state a negative fact, you can use there isnt a / an or there arent any.
present singular

There isnt a garage.

present plural

There arent any trees in the yard.

present singular

There isnt a fence.

present plural

There arent a lot of neighbors.

Contractions
Use theres in speaking and informal writing.

Theres a basketball court. Theres even an extra bedroom for my mother.

Practice 1
Quiz This Week 0

Look at the information about Mrs. Chans class. Make sentences using there is, there are and information about this class.

Mrs. Chans History Class

Students 18 Homework very little Readings many

Example: This week, there isnt a quiz. This week, there are 18 students.
This week, there is very little homework.

This week, there are many readings.

Questions
Put is, or are before there to make a question.

Are Is there therea mice swimming in the house? pool?

Short Answers
Use there in questions and short answers. Are there any Is there a problems in the porch? basement?

No, there Yes, there is. arent.

Practice 2
Example: lots of houses

Ask a partner questions about his or her neighborhood. Use is there, are there and short answers.

a good school
many children a highway five years ago

Are there lots of houses in No, there your arent. neighborhood?

restaurants
problems cafs five years ago parks noise

References
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.