There is It is there are are expressions that have the meaning of "have", in the sense of "existing", therefore they also mean "existing". Colloquially, in Portuguese, we sometimes also use the verb “ter” in the same sense.
Read too: Other or another - what's the difference?
Topics of this article
- 1 - Summary about there is and there are
- 2 - What is the difference between there is and there are?
- 3 - When to use there is?
- 4 - When to use there are?
- 5 - Past of there is
- 6 - Past of there are
- 7 - Future of there is
- 8 - Future of there are
- 9 - Solved exercises about there is and there are
Summary about there is It is there are
There is It is there are They mean "have" in the sense of "exist".
There is is the singular form.
There are is the plural form.
the past of there is é there was. the past of there are é there were.
the future of there is é there is going to be or there will be. the future of there are é there are going to be or there will be.
What is the difference between there is It is there are?
There is
It is there are can mean “there is”, in the sense of “existing”. In colloquial language, in Portuguese, we also use “tem” in this case.There is a problem here.
There is a problem here.
Exist a problem here
He has a problem here.
we use there are for expression in the plural. That's the difference.
There are problems here.
There is problems here. (Note that this “have” does not inflect.)
They exist problems here.
He has problems here.
See the poster in the image below:
In the image above, we have the use of there is in negative form.
We can also use the contracted form, made with there is not, adding the article (The), required after not:
There is not to planet B.
There isn't to planet B.
There is not a planet B.
We interpret the phrase in the sense that there is no plan B to replace planet Earth: we need to take care of the future of this planet.
What would the sentence be in the plural? We have two possibilities.
There are not planets B.
There aren't planets B.
There is not B planets.
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
when to use there is?
we use there is for constructions in the singular when we want to say that something exists (or does not exist).
There is no such thing as a dragon.
Does not exist that dragon.
There is more to life than this.
There is more in life than that.
when to use there are?
There are is used for plural constructions. Its use is when we say that something exists (or not).
There are no skeletons in the wardrobe.
Do not exist skeletons in the wardrobe.
→ Above, we have the literal translation of the expression, which means:
Do not exist Hidden/guarded secrets.
I'm sure there are aliens in other galaxies.
I'm sure that they exist aliens in other galaxies.
past from there is
The simple past of there is é: there was.
There was a problem, and there was also a solution.
There was a problem and there was also a solution.
There wasn't the house here.
There was no house here.
past from there are
The simple past of there are é: there were.
There were lots of gold in the mine. (were agrees with lots, which is plural.)
There was a lot of gold in the mine.
There were no diamonds in the underground.
There was not underground diamonds.
future of there is
For the simple future, we have two ways to there is: there is going to be or there will be. This second form holds for agreement with is or are.
there will be blood.
There will be blood.
There won't be a new agreement.
There will be no a new agreement.
There is going to be a second sun in the sky.
Will have a second sun in the sky.
There isn't going to be the rematch.
there won't bea rematch match.
future of there are
For the simple future, there are two ways to there are: there are going to be or there will be. This second form holds for agreement with is or are, as already seen.
There are going to be riots.
Will have riots.
There aren't going to be new candidates.
there won't be new candidates.
there will be storms.
There will be storms.
There will not be bananas no more.
There will be no more bananas.
Read too: This, that, these It is those - what's the difference?
Solved exercises on there is It is there are
question 1
Both in Brazil and in the US, we find a criminal system that incarcerates more black people than white people for similar crimes. Which sentence below describes this situation?
A) There is racism.
B) There are racism.
C) There are races.
D) There will be races.
Resolution:
Letter a
The letter D brings a sentence in the future, so it does not suit the situation described, and can be discarded. The letter C states that there are races, which does not suit the statement in the best way. Between the letter A and B, it is noticed that the agreement of B is incorrect, being correct the letter A.
question 2
Which sentence below fits the image as a possible description?
A) There was a happy man.
B) There were a happy man.
C) There are a happy man.
D) There is a happy man.
Resolution:
Letter D
Only one of the forms describes the present situation with adequate agreement. The letter A is wrong as it is in the past tense. The letter B is wrong, as it is in the past and with wrong agreement. The letter C is in the present tense, but it has wrong agreement. The correct alternative is the letter D.
By Beta Maria Xavier Reis
English teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
REIS, Beta Maria Xavier. "There is It is there are"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/there-is-e-there-are.htm. Accessed on April 13, 2023.
Click here and know the difference between other and another. Know when to use them and see examples.
Know the pronouns this, that, these and those in English. Understand their uses and differences. Practice with exercises.
Know when to use was and were. Know the inflections of the verb to be in the simple past and special cases.
Which or what? Click here, understand the uses and differences of these two pronouns and see examples.
Know the prepositions in, on and at. Understand their uses and differences and practice with exercises.
