Pingpong English Business Class

The point

There is introduces one thing. There are introduces more than one. The real thing sits after the verb, and that thing decides is or are.

Form and use

There is and there are say that something exists, often in a place. There is not the real subject. The noun that follows decides singular or plural. Use these lines to introduce a thing the listener does not yet have in mind. Do not start with the noun if your point is simply that it exists.

Use there is for one countable thing or for an uncountable. There is a key on the desk. There is milk in the fridge. Use there are for more than one. There are two keys on the desk. There are people outside. There are a key and There is two keys are wrong. Match the verb to the noun that comes next.

Negatives place not after is or are. There is not a key on the desk. There is not any milk. There are not any keys. Short forms are there isn't and there aren't. Any is natural in the negative with plurals and uncountables. There aren't any chairs. There isn't any time. Some is more natural in a positive line: There are some chairs.

A question places is or are before there. Is there a key? Are there any keys? Is there any milk? Short answers are Yes, there is. No, there isn't. Yes, there are. No, there aren't. Any is also natural in the question when the amount is open. Are there any questions? Is there any coffee? Do not answer Yes, it is for a there question.

Don't translate it like this

Don't say

There are a book on the desk.

Say

There is a book on the desk.

책상 위에 책이 한 권 있습니다.

One book takes is.

Short examples

There is a book on the desk.

책상 위에 책이 한 권 있습니다.

There are two notes.

메모가 두 개 있습니다.

There is a bank on this street.

이 거리에 은행이 있습니다.

There are three chairs.

의자가 세 개 있습니다.

There is some milk.

우유가 좀 있습니다.

There isn't any sugar.

설탕이 전혀 없습니다.

There aren't any windows.

창문이 하나도 없습니다.

Is there a lift?

엘리베이터가 있습니까?

Are there any questions?

질문이 있습니까?

Yes, there is.

네, 있습니다.

Questions

Every question has to be right to close this point.