There is / There are: Describing Places

A2 Grammar 56 sentences

There is / There are: Describing Places 0 / 56

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Use there is and there are to say what you can see in a place.

When we want to say that something exists in a place, we use there is and there are.

Use there is with singular nouns (one thing) or uncountable nouns: There is a beach. There is some sand.
Use there are with plural nouns (more than one): There are three hotels. There are many shops.
In everyday English we often use the contraction there's for there is. There are stays the same.
Negatives: There isn't a bank. / There aren't any buses.
Questions: Is there a café near here? / Are there any toilets?

Read these short descriptions of places.

Anna and Ben are tourists. They are looking for a hotel near the beach.

Anna: Excuse me! Is there a hotel near the beach?

Local: Yes! There are two hotels on this street. There is a small one and a big one.

Anna: Great! Are there any restaurants nearby?

Local: Yes, there are some good cafés and there is a fantastic fish restaurant.

Ben: Perfect. Is there a bus stop here?

Local: Yes, there is one in front of the post office.

Anna: Wonderful — and are there any banks?

Local: Sorry, there aren't any banks here, but there is an ATM in the supermarket.

Quiz

0/5

1Which sentence is correct?

‘A beach’ is singular, so we use there is.
2In the dialog, what does the local person say about hotels?

The local says: 'There are two hotels on this street.'
3Which word completes the question? '_____ there any restaurants nearby?'

‘Restaurants’ is plural, so we use Are there.
4Which of these is a common mistake?

The article warns that 'There is five hotels' is wrong; it must be 'There are five hotels'.
5According to the local, where is the bus stop?

The local says: 'There is one in front of the post office.'

beach Noun An area of sand or small stones beside the sea or a lake where people go to relax or play.
contraction Noun the fact of something becoming smaller or shorter : the fact of becoming less in amount or quantity : one of the very strong and usually painful movements of the muscles in the womb that help to push the baby out of the mother's body during the process of birth : a short form of a word or combination of words that is often used instead of the full form in spoken English :
hotel Noun A building where people pay to stay and sleep, especially when they are traveling. Hotels offer rooms and often meals and other services.
singular Adjective of or relating to the form of a word used when talking or writing about one thing: of an unusual quality or standard ; noticeable : unusual or strange ; not ordinary
there are Other Used to indicate that something or someone exists or is present in a particular place, typically followed by a plural noun or an indefinite quantity.
there is Idiom A fixed existential expression used to indicate that something exists or is present in a particular place.
town centre Noun The central part of a town, typically where the main shops, businesses, and public buildings are located.
uncountable Adjective Describing a noun that cannot be counted as separate units, typically because it refers to a mass, substance, or abstract concept. Uncountable nouns have only one form and do not normally take a plural.