There Is There Are Wordwall

There is and there are show that something exists. They tell us that something is present. Think of them as signposts that point to the existence of things.

Understanding "There Is"

There is is used with singular nouns. A singular noun means only one thing. We use it when we're talking about a single item.

Example:

• There is a cat on the mat. (Only one cat)
• There is an apple on the table. (Only one apple)
• There is a book in my bag. (Only one book)

Notice how after "there is," we have words like "a cat," "an apple," and "a book." These all refer to one single item.

We also use there is with uncountable nouns. These are things we can't count easily, like water or sand. We don't say "one water" or "two sands."

Example:

• There is water in the glass.
• There is sand on the beach.
• There is milk in the fridge.

Even though there might be a lot of water or sand, we treat them as one general thing when using "there is."

Understanding "There Are"

There are is used with plural nouns. A plural noun means more than one thing. We use it when we're talking about multiple items.

Example:

• There are cats on the mat. (More than one cat)
• There are apples on the table. (More than one apple)
• There are books in my bag. (More than one book)

Look at the words after "there are": "cats," "apples," and "books." These are all plural nouns, meaning more than one.

"There Is" vs. "There Are": A Quick Comparison

Here's a simple way to remember the difference:

• There is: Use for one thing (singular) or for uncountable things.
• There are: Use for more than one thing (plural).

Think about it like this: if you can put a number in front of the noun (two cats, five apples), then you probably need to use "there are." If you can't (one water, two sands), or if there's only one item, use "there is."

Using "There Is/Are" in Questions

To ask a question using "there is" or "there are," we usually switch the order. Instead of "There is..." we say "Is there...?" and instead of "There are..." we say "Are there...?"

Example:

• Statement: There is a dog in the park.
• Question: Is there a dog in the park?
• Statement: There are birds in the sky.
• Question: Are there birds in the sky?

Remember to use the correct form ("is" for singular/uncountable, "are" for plural) depending on what you're asking about.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake is using "there is" with plural nouns. For example, saying "There is cats" is incorrect. You should say "There are cats."

Another mistake is using "there are" with singular nouns. Saying "There are a cat" is also incorrect. You should say "There is a cat."

Always check whether the noun is singular or plural, or whether it's uncountable, to choose the correct form of "there is/are."

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to learn the difference between there is and there are is to practice. Try creating your own sentences using different nouns. Look around you and describe what you see using "there is" and "there are." The more you practice, the easier it will become!