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General English · A1

There is, there are – there was, there were

Say what exists in a place now and what was there in the past.

What you will learn

  • Describe what exists with there is and there are.
  • Use there was and there were for the past.
  • Make negatives, questions and short answers.

Bir joyda narsa yoki odam borligini there is / there are bilan aytamiz. O‘tmish uchun there was / there were ishlatiladi. Shakl otning birlik, ko‘plik yoki sanalmaydigan ekaniga bog‘liq.

Use there + be to introduce the existence of something, often in a place. Use is for a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun, and are for a plural noun. For the past, change is to was and are to were. Put not after be for negatives. In questions, put be before there. In short answers, keep there: Yes, there is; No, there aren’t.

Grammar Tables

On small screens, swipe tables sideways.

Now and in the past
NounPresentPast
singular countableThere is a shop here.There was a shop here.
plural countableThere are two shops here.There were two shops here.
uncountableThere is some water.There was some water.
Negative forms
TimeSingular / uncountablePlural
nowThere isn’t a lift. / There isn’t any tea.There aren’t any stairs.
pastThere wasn’t a lift. / There wasn’t any tea.There weren’t any stairs.
Questions and short answers
QuestionYesNo
Is there a bank?Yes, there is.No, there isn’t.
Are there any buses?Yes, there are.No, there aren’t.
Was there a problem?Yes, there was.No, there wasn’t.
Were there any people?Yes, there were.No, there weren’t.

Examples

One item now

There’s a clean towel on the bed.

Karavotda toza sochiq bor.

Plural now

There are three people in the queue.

Navbatda uch kishi bor.

Uncountable negative

There isn’t any juice in the bottle.

Shishada sharbat yo‘q.

Singular in the past

There was a tree outside our old house.

Eski uyimiz tashqarisida daraxt bor edi.

Past question and answer

Were there any seats on the bus? Yes, there were.

Avtobusda bo‘sh joylar bormidi? Ha, bor edi.

Common Mistakes

Avoid: There is four chairs.

Use: There are four chairs.

Four chairs is plural, so use are in standard written English.

Avoid: There are some milk.

Use: There is some milk.

Milk is uncountable and takes is.

Avoid: Did there be a café here?

Use: Was there a café here?

For a past existence question, move was before there; do not add did.

Avoid: Is there a toilet? Yes, there’s.

Use: Is there a toilet? Yes, there is.

Do not contract there is at the end of a positive short answer.

Practice & Feedback

Practise freely. Scores stay on this page only and reset when you leave or reload. Feedback appears after checking each exercise.

1 · Choose the right form

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. There ___ a clock above the door now.
2. There ___ five cups on the shelf now.
3. There ___ some rice in the bowl now.
4. Yesterday there ___ a concert in the park.
5. Last night there ___ lots of stars in the sky.
6. There ___ any bread now. We ate it all.
7. There ___ any students in the room now. It’s empty.
8. There ___ a bridge here in 1990. People used a boat.
9. There ___ any cars in the car park yesterday. It was empty.
10. There ___ some snow on the road yesterday.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

2 · Ask and answer

Type only the missing word or words. Read the clue carefully.

1. ___ there a pharmacy near here now?
2. ___ there any shops open now?
3. ___ there a meeting yesterday?
4. ___ there any taxis at the station last night?
5. Is there any soup? Yes, there ___.
6. Are there any plates? No, there ___. (Use a contraction.)
7. Was there a queue? Yes, there ___.
8. Were there any tickets? No, there ___. (Use a contraction.)
9. How many rooms ___ there in your flat now?
10. How many visitors ___ there yesterday?

Answer every question to check this exercise.

3 · Describe the place

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Choose the correct sentence about one thing now.
2. Choose the correct present question.
3. Choose the correct positive short answer to ‘Is there a garden?’
4. Which sentence correctly describes no rain yesterday?
5. Choose the correct question about numbers now.
6. The playground is new. Describe two swings there now.
7. Choose the correct past question about one building.
8. Choose the correct sentence about a quantity of food now.
9. Were there any children at the party? Choose the correct yes-answer.
10. Choose the correct present negative about plural objects.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

Review

  • Singular or uncountable: there is / there was. Plural: there are / there were.
  • Questions move be before there; negatives add not after be.
  • Keep there in short answers, and do not shorten positive there is to there’s.
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