There is one simple rule: use there is with a singular noun, and use there are with a plural noun. That is the short answer most people need. Still, this grammar point gets tricky when a sentence has a list, uncountable nouns, collective meaning, or an informal contraction like there’s.
Fast answer: There is a problem. / There are two problems. The verb agrees with the noun that comes after it.
Why There Is and There Are Cause Confusion
Many learners expect the verb to match the word there. It does not. In these sentences, there only introduces the sentence. The real subject comes later. That is why we say There is a chair but There are three chairs.
This pattern is called an existential sentence. In plain English, it is just a way to say that something exists, is present, or can be found. You are not talking about location first. You are saying that something is there.
The Basic Rule
Use There Is With Singular Nouns
- There is a cat outside.
- There is an answer in the email.
- There is one reason to wait.
Use There Are With Plural Nouns
- There are two cats outside.
- There are several answers in the email.
- There are many reasons to wait.
If the noun is one thing, use is. If the noun is more than one, use are. That part is easy. The harder part is noticing what the noun really is.
A Clear Table You Can Check Fast
| Sentence Pattern | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular countable noun | There is | There is a message for you. |
| Plural countable noun | There are | There are three messages for you. |
| Uncountable noun | There is | There is water on the floor. |
| List starting with a singular noun | There is | There is a sofa and two chairs in the room. |
| List starting with a plural noun | There are | There are two chairs and a sofa in the room. |
| Informal contraction | There’s | There’s a problem here. |
When To Use There Is
1) With A Singular Countable Noun
Use there is when the noun is singular and you can count it as one item.
- There is a car in the driveway.
- There is an orange in the bowl.
- There is one email left.
2) With Uncountable Nouns
Some nouns do not normally take a plural form in this meaning. These are uncountable nouns, and they usually take there is.
- There is milk in the fridge.
- There is sugar on the shelf.
- There is information in the report.
Common mistake: There are information is wrong. Information is uncountable, so the correct form is There is information.
When To Use There Are
1) With Plural Nouns
Use there are when the noun is plural.
- There are books on the desk.
- There are five students in the room.
- There are many options available.
2) With Numbers Greater Than One
When a sentence includes a number above one, the noun is usually plural, so there are is the right choice.
- There are two windows in the office.
- There are ten minutes left.
- There are several reasons for the delay.
The Tricky Part: Sentences With A List
This is where many people stop and think. In a sentence with two or more nouns, the verb usually agrees with the first noun after it.
- There is a pen and two notebooks on the desk.
- There are two notebooks and a pen on the desk.
Both sentences can be correct. The form changes because the first noun changes. This is one of the most useful details to remember (and it clears up a lot of doubt fast).
Starts With Singular
There is a table, two lamps, and a rug in the room.
Starts With Plural
There are two lamps, a table, and a rug in the room.
Is There’s Correct?
Yes. There’s is the contraction of there is. It is normal in speech and in informal writing.
- There’s a new cafe near my office.
- There’s no reason to worry.
You may also hear people say there’s two people outside. That happens in everyday speech, but it is better to avoid it in formal writing, school writing, and edited content. The standard form is there are two people outside.
Best choice for careful writing: use there is for singular nouns and there are for plural nouns, even if informal speech sometimes bends the rule.
Common Mistakes And Better Forms
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| There are a book on the desk. | There is a book on the desk. | Book is singular. |
| There is two cars outside. | There are two cars outside. | Cars is plural. |
| There are information in the file. | There is information in the file. | Information is uncountable. |
| There’s three answers. | There are three answers. | Better for careful, standard writing. |
| There is many reasons to leave. | There are many reasons to leave. | Reasons is plural. |
Examples In Real Sentence Types
Talking About Places
- There is a pharmacy near the station.
- There are several cafes on this street.
Talking About Time Or Quantity
- There is enough time to finish.
- There are only five minutes left.
Talking About Problems Or Ideas
- There is a problem with the file.
- There are a few ideas we can test.
Questions With There Is and There Are
The same agreement rule applies in questions.
- Is there a bank nearby?
- Are there any seats left?
- Is there any coffee?
Notice that any coffee still takes is because coffee is uncountable in that sentence.
Negative Forms
- There is not a problem.
- There are not any problems.
- There isn’t any bread left.
- There aren’t enough chairs.
A Small Detail That Helps A Lot
If you are unsure, ignore the opening word there and look for the noun after the verb. Ask yourself: is that noun singular, plural, or uncountable? That one check usually gives you the right form.
A Simple Memory Trick
Look at the noun, not at there. One or uncountable = is. More than one = are.
Which Is Correct: There Is or There Are?
Both are correct. The right choice depends on the noun that follows:
- Use there is for a singular noun or an uncountable noun.
- Use there are for a plural noun.
- In a list, the verb often matches the first noun after it.
- There’s is normal in informal English, but there are is better in formal plural sentences.
Use these as safe models:
There is a solution.
There are two solutions.
There is water on the floor.
