B2 Sentence Structure 13 min read Facile

'There' existentiel (Il y a)

Maîtrise le 'there is/are' pour introduire de nouveaux sujets et décrire l'existence avec la fluidité d'un locuteur natif. C'est ton passe-partout pour la nouveauté, l'existence et la description !

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'There' + 'be' to introduce new information or state that something exists without making it the grammatical subject.

  • Use 'There is' for singular nouns and uncountable things: 'There is a fly in my soup.'
  • Use 'There are' for plural nouns: 'There are three meetings scheduled today.'
  • In questions, swap the order: 'Is there any coffee left?' or 'Are there any concerns?'
There + Verb (be/seem/appear) + Real Subject + Location/Context 📍

Overview

Avez-vous déjà regardé votre téléphone pour réaliser que there is (il n'y a) pas de Wi-Fi ? Ce petit moment de panique vous est offert par le there existentiel. C'est la grammaire de l'existence.
Vous ne décrivez pas comment est une chose ; vous annoncez simplement qu'elle existe dans le monde. C'est comme un doigt pointant quelque chose et disant :
Hé, regarde ! Ce truc est là !
En anglais, nous utilisons there is et there are pour introduire de nouvelles informations. Nous appelons cela le there existentiel. Pourquoi ?
Parce qu'il parle de l'existence des choses. Si vous entrez dans une pièce et voyez un chat sur le canapé, vous ne dites pas
A cat is on the sofa
. Cela sonne comme un robot.
Vous dites : There is a cat on the sofa. C'est plus naturel. Pensez à there comme un espace réservé. Cela ne signifie pas là-bas (c'est un autre there).
Il garde simplement la place au début de la phrase pour que vous puissiez dire au monde ce qui se passe. C'est comme le générique d'ouverture d'un film. Il vous dit qui et quoi est à l'écran avant que l'action ne commence.
Vous utilisez cela quand vous voulez mentionner une personne, un objet ou même une idée abstraite pour la première fois. Par exemple, there is un problème avec ma commande. Ou, there are trois nouveaux messages dans votre boîte de réception.
C'est l'ultime déclencheur de conversation. Fait amusant : sans cette règle, vous ne pourriez pas dire à votre ami que there's (il y a) une araignée sur son épaule. Et franchement, quel genre d'ami seriez-vous alors ?

Word Order Rules

L'ordre des mots ici est très spécifique. Généralement, en anglais, le sujet vient en premier. Mais avec le there existentiel, le vrai sujet vient *après* le verbe. Le modèle est : There + be (verbe) + Noun (sujet) + Lieu/Temps.
  • Singulier : There + is + a/an + nom singulier. Exemple : There is a coffee on the table.
  • Pluriel : There + are + nom pluriel. Exemple : There are two dogs in the park.
Si vous voulez poser une question, vous inversez simplement les deux premiers mots : Is there a fly in my soup? ou Are there any tickets left?. Pour les négations, ajoutez simplement not : There is not (isn't) any milk. ou There are not (aren't) any chairs. Dans les SMS modernes, nous utilisons presque toujours la contraction There's pour le singulier. Mais attention !
Dans l'écriture formelle, vous devriez éviter there's pour les choses au pluriel comme There's three books. Même si tout le monde le dit dans la vraie vie, votre professeur d'anglais pourrait avoir une petite crise cardiaque si vous l'écrivez ainsi. Utilisez There are pour les pluriels quand vous essayez d'avoir l'air professionnel, comme lors d'un entretien d'embauche sur Zoom.

How This Grammar Works

Considérez there comme un sujet factice. Ce n'est pas une personne ou une chose réelle. C'est juste un fantôme grammatical.
Son seul travail est d'introduire le vrai sujet qui le suit. Imaginez que vous êtes un vlogger de voyage. Vous arrivez sur une plage magnifique.
Vous ne dites pas simplement
The beach is beautiful
. Vous voulez dire à vos abonnés ce qu'ils peuvent y trouver. Vous dites : There are many palm trees here! ou There is a small café nearby. Vous introduisez ces choses dans la conversation.
L'un des plus grands obstacles pour les apprenants est de confondre there is avec it is. Voici la règle d'or : utilisez there is pour dire que quelque chose existe. Utilisez it is pour décrire cette chose une fois que vous l'avez déjà introduite.
  • There is un nouveau téléphone sur la table. (Je vous dis qu'il est là.)
  • It is très cher. (Je décris le téléphone dont nous venons de parler.)
Si vous les mélangez, vous pourriez ressembler à une erreur Google Translate de 2012. Avec humour, dire que there is (il y a) une raison à tout signifie généralement que vous avez oublié pourquoi vous êtes entré dans la cuisine.

Formation Pattern

1
Construire ces phrases, c'est comme assembler des Lego. C'est un processus simple en 3 étapes :
2
Commencez par le mot There. Cela sert de fondation.
3
Choisissez votre verbe en fonction de la quantité. Si vous voyez une chose, utilisez is. Si vous en voyez deux ou plus, utilisez are.
4
Singulier/Innombrable : is (There is water / There is a bug)
5
Pluriel : are (There are memes / There are people)
6
Ajoutez le nom (ce dont vous parlez) et tous les détails supplémentaires comme l'endroit où il se trouve.
7
There + is + a party + at my house.
8
There + are + many stars + in the sky.
9
Dans le langage courant, There's est le roi. There's a new video on YouTube. C'est rapide, percutant et cela vous donne l'air d'un locuteur natif. Rappelez-vous simplement que is adore les noms au singulier et are adore les noms au pluriel. Ils sont comme ce couple dans une fête qui refuse d'être séparé. Si vous mettez is avec un nom au pluriel dans une rédaction formelle, c'est comme porter des chaussettes avec des sandales — certains le font, mais c'est définitivement un choix douteux.

Pattern Variations

La vie n'est pas seulement faite de ce qui *est* là ; parfois, c'est ce qui *n'est pas* là.
  • La Négation : Ajoutez not. En anglais informel, nous utilisons isn't et aren't.
  • There isn't any Wi-Fi in this café. (L'ultime tragédie du 21ème siècle.)
  • There aren't any clean towels.
  • La Question : Inversez le verbe et there.
  • Is there a charger I can use?
  • Are there any good shows on Netflix right now?
  • La Réponse Courte : Ne dites pas simplement Yes ou No. Utilisez la structure.
  • Is there a gym in the hotel?
    ->
    Yes, there is.
  • Are there many people at the party?
    -> "No, there aren't."
  • Mots de Quantité : Nous utilisons souvent some pour les phrases positives et any pour les négations et les questions.
  • There are some cookies in the kitchen.
  • Are there any cookies left? (La question la plus importante que vous poserez jamais.)
L'utilisation de ces variations rend votre anglais flexible. Vous pouvez gérer une course Uber ou vérifier une application de livraison de repas sans avoir l'air de lire un manuel des années 1950.

Real Conversations

Voyons comment cela se présente dans le monde réel. Imaginez que vous êtes dans un café avec un ami.

Scénario 1 : Au Café

A

Ami

Is there une table pour nous ?
V

Vous

Oui, there's une dans le coin. Mais there aren't de chaises !
A

Ami

Regarde, there are quelques chaises près de la fenêtre. Allons les prendre.

Scénario 2 : Commander à manger en ligne

V

Vous

Are there des burgers vegans sur cette appli ?
C

Coloc

Je pense que there is une option dans ce nouvel endroit.
V

Vous

Oh attends, there's des frais de livraison de 10$. Laisse tomber, there's des pâtes dans le frigo.

Scénario 3 : Vlogging de voyage

V

Vous

Salut tout le monde ! There's une vue incroyable derrière moi. There are tellement de touristes aujourd'hui, mais there is un endroit calme là-bas près de la fontaine.

Vous voyez ? C'est partout. Des commentaires TikTok aux groupes WhatsApp, cette règle est le ciment qui maintient l'anglais de base.

Common Mistakes

Même les pros font des erreurs parfois. Voici les plus grosses à surveiller :
  1. 1Le piège du It is : Ne dites pas
    It is a book on the table
    quand vous voulez dire There is a book on the table. Rappelez-vous : There is = existence. It is = identification/description.
  2. 2L'erreur d'orthographe : Ne confondez pas There avec Their (le leur) ou They're (ils sont). Ils se prononcent de la même façon, mais l'autocorrecteur de votre téléphone vous jugera en silence.
  3. 3Confusion Singulier/Pluriel : Dire
    There is many people
    . Bien que courant dans l'argot très informel, c'est techniquement faux. Restez-en à There are pour les pluriels.
  4. 4Le A manquant : N'oubliez pas l'article ! Ce n'est pas There is car. C'est There is a car.
  5. 5Surutiliser Have : Dans beaucoup de langues, on dit
    Il a un chat
    pour dire
    Il y a un chat
    . En anglais, nous ne faisons pas cela. Utilisez simplement there is.

Quick FAQ

Q : Puis-je dire There's pour des choses au pluriel ?

R: Dans le langage courant, oui. Mais dans un examen, utilisez toujours There are pour les pluriels.

Q : Que se passe-t-il si j'ai une liste de choses, comme un stylo et deux crayons ?

R: Généralement, le verbe s'accorde avec le *premier* élément de la liste. Donc, There is a pen and two pencils.

Q : Est-ce que there est le sujet de la phrase ?

R: Grammaticalement, c'est un espace réservé. Le vrai sujet est le nom qui suit le verbe.

Q : Comment dire there is au passé ?

R: Changez simplement le verbe be. Utilisez there was pour le singulier et there were pour le pluriel.

Q : Est-il correct de dire There is no au lieu de There isn't any ?

R: Oui ! There is no milk est parfaitement correct et sonne un peu plus direct.

Q : Puis-je utiliser there is pour des personnes ?

R: Absolument ! There is a new student in our class est la façon standard de présenter des gens.

Existential 'There' across Tenses

Tense Singular/Uncountable Plural
Present Simple
There is
There are
Past Simple
There was
There were
Future (Will)
There will be
There will be
Present Perfect
There has been
There have been
Past Perfect
There had been
There had been
Modals (e.g. might)
There might be
There might be

Common Contractions

Full Form Contraction Usage Note
There is
There's
Very common in speech/writing
There are
There're
Rare in writing, common in fast speech
There will
There'll
Common in informal speech
There is not
There isn't / There's not
Both are common
There are not
There aren't
Standard negative plural

Meanings

A construction used to introduce a new topic or to state the existence or presence of something in a particular place or time.

1

Physical Existence

Stating that an object or person is physically present in a location.

“There is a cat on the roof.”

“There are several cars in the driveway.”

2

Abstract Existence

Stating the presence of non-physical things like ideas, problems, or feelings.

“There is no hope for a quick resolution.”

“There are many reasons to be optimistic.”

3

Events and Occurrences

Announcing that an event is happening or will happen.

“There is a party tonight at Sarah's house.”

“There was a massive protest in the city center.”

4

Availability

Indicating whether something can be used or obtained.

“There is plenty of food in the fridge.”

“Are there any tickets left for the show?”

5

Complex Existence (B2+)

Using 'there' with modal verbs or verbs of perception to express nuance.

“There might be a delay in your shipment.”

“There appears to have been a mistake in the calculations.”

Reference Table

Reference table for 'There' existentiel (Il y a)
Fonction Singulier/Innombrable Pluriel Exemple
Affirmative
`There is / There was`
`There are / There were`
`There is a cat.` `There are cats.`
Négative
`There isn't / wasn't`
`There aren't / weren't`
`There isn't a problem.` `There weren't questions.`
Question
`Is there? / Was there?`
`Are there? / Were there?`
`Is there coffee?` `Were there any emails?`
Futur
`There will be`
`There will be`
`There will be a party.`
Temps composés (Perfect Tenses)
`There has been`
`There have been`
`There has been rain.` `There have been delays.`
Verbes Modaux (Modal Verbs)
`There might be`
`There might be`
`There might be a test.`

Spectre de formalité

Formel
There appears to be a discrepancy in the financial records.

There appears to be a discrepancy in the financial records. (Workplace)

Neutre
There is a mistake in the accounts.

There is a mistake in the accounts. (Workplace)

Informel
There's a bit of a mess-up with the numbers.

There's a bit of a mess-up with the numbers. (Workplace)

Argot
There's a major glitch in the system.

There's a major glitch in the system. (Workplace)

'There' Existentiel vs. 'There' de Lieu

'THERE'

Existentiel (Sujet factice)

  • There is a cat. (un chat existe)
  • There are problems. (des problèmes existent)

Adverbe (Lieu)

  • The cat is there. (emplacement du chat)
  • Go over there. (direction)

Quand utiliser 'There Is/Are' vs. 'It Is'

There is/are
There's a new café. (Introduire quelque chose de nouveau)
There are many options. (Affirmer l'existence/la disponibilité)
It is
It's amazing! (Se référer à quelque chose de déjà connu)
It's Tuesday. (Parler du temps/météo/distance)

Choisir 'There is' ou 'There are'

1

Introduis-tu quelque chose pour la première fois ou affirmes-tu son existence ?

YES
Utilise 'There is/are'
NO
Envisage un sujet + verbe direct ou 'It is'
2

Le groupe nominal qui suit est-il singulier, indénombrable ou pluriel ?

YES
NO
3

Si singulier/indénombrable :

YES
Utilise 'There is' (ou 'was', 'will be', etc.)
NO
4

Si pluriel :

YES
Utilise 'There are' (ou 'were', 'will be', etc.)
NO

Usages de 'There is/are'

Nouvelle info

  • There's a notification.
  • There are some changes.
✔️

Existence

  • There is a God.
  • There are 7 continents.

Disponibilité

  • There isn't much time.
  • Are there seats left?
🖼️

Descriptions

  • There is a lake.
  • There are mountains.

Exemples par niveau

1

There is a dog in the park.

2

There are four chairs in the room.

3

Is there a supermarket near here?

4

There are no students in the class.

1

There was a big party last night.

2

There weren't any eggs in the fridge.

3

Will there be a test tomorrow?

4

There is a lot of sugar in this tea.

1

There has been an accident on the highway.

2

There is something I need to tell you.

3

There used to be a cinema on this street.

4

Is there anything I can do to help?

1

There appears to be a slight delay with your flight.

2

There might have been a misunderstanding during the call.

3

There is no point in arguing about this now.

4

There are bound to be some objections to the new policy.

1

There remains much work to be done before the deadline.

2

There exists a fundamental flaw in your logic.

3

There arose a sudden conflict between the two factions.

4

There's no denying that the climate is changing.

1

There being no further objections, the motion was passed.

2

Should there be any changes, we will notify you immediately.

3

There lived an old fisherman by the sea.

4

There is but one path to true enlightenment.

Facile à confondre

Existential 'There' (There is / There are) vs There vs. It

Learners use 'It' to introduce new things because their native language uses one word for both.

Existential 'There' (There is / There are) vs There vs. They

In fast speech, 'There are' and 'They are' can sound similar.

Existential 'There' (There is / There are) vs There vs. Have

Many languages (like Spanish or Chinese) use the verb 'to have' for existence.

Erreurs courantes

It is a book on the table.

There is a book on the table.

Use 'there' to introduce existence.

There is two cats.

There are two cats.

Verb must agree with the plural noun.

Is a park near here?

Is there a park near here?

You cannot omit 'there' in this structure.

There are no some chairs.

There are no chairs. / There aren't any chairs.

Don't use 'some' with 'no' or 'not'.

There was many people.

There were many people.

Past tense plural agreement.

There is not some milk.

There isn't any milk.

Use 'any' in negative sentences.

Will be a party?

Will there be a party?

Future questions still need the dummy subject 'there'.

There has been many changes.

There have been many changes.

Present perfect plural agreement.

There is no point to go.

There is no point in going.

Incorrect preposition/gerund use with this specific 'there' idiom.

I think that there's a lot of problems.

I think that there are a lot of problems.

While 'there's' is common in speech for plurals, it's technically incorrect in B1+ writing.

There remains some issues.

There remain some issues.

Formal verbs like 'remain' must also agree with the plural subject.

Structures de phrases

There is a ___ in the ___.

There seems to be a ___ with ___.

Is there any ___ left?

There has been a lot of ___ lately.

Real World Usage

Booking an Airbnb very common

Is there a washing machine in the apartment?

Tech Support common

There seems to be a bug in the latest update.

Job Interview occasional

There were several instances where I had to lead the team.

Ordering Food constant

Are there any nuts in this dish?

Social Media very common

There's a new trend going around on TikTok.

Emergency occasional

There has been an accident! Is there a doctor here?

💡

L'accord est essentiel

Vérifie toujours si le groupe nominal *après* 'there is/are' est singulier ou pluriel. Le verbe 'to be' doit s'accorder avec *ce nom-là*, pas avec 'there'. C'est le petit piège le plus courant ! Par exemple, si tu parles de plusieurs choses :
There are many books on the shelf.
⚠️

Ne confonds pas les 'There'

Attention, le 'there' existentiel ne parle pas d'un lieu ! Si tu veux dire 'là-bas' pour indiquer une position, c'est un autre 'there' (l'adverbe de lieu). Ne les mélange pas ! Par exemple, si tu dis :
The keys are over there on the table.
, ce n'est pas le même 'there'.
🎯

Adopte les contractions

Dans l'anglais parlé décontracté et à l'écrit informel, 'there's' est quasiment toujours utilisé à la place de 'there is'. N'hésite pas à l'employer, ça te fera paraître beaucoup plus naturel et fluide. Par contre, 'there're' est moins fréquent. Tu entendras souvent : "There's a lot of work to do."
🌍

Le contexte, c'est tout

Le choix entre 'There is' et 'A subject exists' peut subtilement changer le ton. 'There is' est souvent plus neutre et sert à introduire une nouvelle information, tandis que 'A subject exists' peut sonner plus formel ou insistant. Choisis bien en fonction de ton interlocuteur ! Par exemple, si tu réponds à une question simple :
There is a good reason for this.
💡

Introduction douce

Pense au 'there is/are' comme à une excellente façon d'introduire une information sans qu'un sujet spécifique ne fasse l'action. On l'utilise souvent quand l'existence de quelque chose est plus importante que celui qui l'a causé. Par exemple, si tu décris un paysage :
There are many trees in the forest.
⚠️

Évite la surutilisation

Bien que très utile, ne compte pas *uniquement* sur 'there is/are'. Parfois, une construction de phrase plus directe est plus claire et concise. Varie tes structures de phrases pour rendre ton discours plus captivant ! Évite de dire :
There is a cat that is sleeping on the bed
, quand tu peux simplement dire :
A cat is sleeping on the bed.

Smart Tips

Use 'There seems to be' instead of 'You have'.

You have a mistake in your email. There seems to be a mistake in your email.

Start with 'There was' to paint a picture for the reader.

A dark forest was ahead. There was a dark forest ahead.

Just match the verb to the very first noun you say.

There are a chair and some tables. There is a chair and some tables.

Always use 'any' in the question.

Is there some milk? Is there any milk?

Prononciation

/ðɛərz/

The 'There's' Contraction

In natural speech, 'There is' is almost always contracted to 'There's'. The 's' sounds like a /z/.

/ðɛərɑːr/

Linking 'There are'

When saying 'There are', the 'r' in 'there' is often pronounced to link with the 'a' in 'are'.

Rising Intonation for Questions

Is there a ↗️ problem?

Conveys a genuine inquiry or concern.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

T-H-E-R-E: To Highlight Everything Recently Entered.

Association visuelle

Imagine a stage curtain opening. 'There is' is the person pulling the curtain to show you what is on the stage. The curtain itself isn't the star; the thing behind it is.

Rhyme

If it's one, 'There is' is done. If it's more, 'There are' is the door.

Story

A traveler arrives in a new city. First, they see 'There is a hotel'. Then they notice 'There are many shops'. Finally, they realize 'There has been a festival' because of the decorations.

Word Web

existencepresenceavailabilityoccurrenceplaceholderdummy subject

Défi

Look around your room right now. List 5 things using 'There is' and 5 things using 'There are'. Then, turn them into questions.

Notes culturelles

Using 'There seems to be...' is a common cultural 'softener'. English speakers often avoid direct confrontation by blaming the existence of a problem rather than the person.

In some dialects, you might hear 'There's' used for everything, regardless of plurality, even more frequently than in standard English.

Existential 'there' is used to maintain an objective, impersonal tone in research papers.

The use of 'there' as a dummy subject dates back to Old English (þær), where it was already used to introduce sentences where the subject was delayed.

Amorces de conversation

Is there anything you would change about your city?

Are there any traditions in your country that outsiders might find strange?

Is there a book or movie that changed your life?

Sujets d'écriture

Describe your dream house. What is there in every room?
Write about a major change in your life. What was there before that isn't there now?
Argue for or against the existence of aliens. Use 'there' to present your evidence.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Choisis la bonne forme

___ a lot of cars on the road today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There are
'A lot of cars' est un groupe nominal pluriel, donc 'there are' est la forme correcte pour l'accord sujet-verbe.
Trouve et corrige l'erreur Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

There is three main points in her argument.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There are three main points in her argument.
Le sujet 'three main points' est pluriel, donc le verbe devrait être 'are', pas 'is'.
Quelle phrase est correcte ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Is there any milk in the fridge?
'Milk' est un nom indénombrable, qui prend une forme verbale singulière ('is'). Dans les questions, 'is there' vient en premier.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'there is' or 'there are'.

_______ many reasons why I love this city.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There are
'Reasons' is plural, so we use 'there are'.
Choose the most natural sentence for a professional email. Choix multiple

How should you mention a possible error?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There seems to be a mistake in the file.
'There seems to be' is the most polite and professional way to introduce a problem.
Correct the error in the following sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

In the fridge it is some milk.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: In the fridge there is some milk.
We use 'there is' for existence, not 'it is'.
Rewrite the sentence starting with 'There'. Sentence Transformation

A storm is coming.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There is a storm coming.
This is the standard way to introduce an approaching event.
Match the question to the correct short answer. Match Pairs

1. Is there any coffee? 2. Are there any cookies?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Yes, there is / 2-Yes, there are
Short answers must mirror the verb and subject of the question.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Excuse me, _______ a bank near here? B: Yes, _______ one just around the corner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is there / there is
The question uses 'is there' and the answer confirms existence with 'there is'.
Which sentence uses 'There' for existence (not location)? Grammar Sorting

Select the existential use.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There is a box on the floor.
In this sentence, 'there' is a dummy subject introducing the box.
Change 'There is a problem' to the present perfect. Conjugation Drill

Present Perfect form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There has been a problem.
'Problem' is singular, so we use 'has been'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choisis la bonne forme Texte trous

In my hometown, ___ a beautiful park near the river.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: there is
Choisis la bonne forme Texte trous

Before the invention of phones, ___ no instant communication.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: there was
Trouve et corrige l'erreur Error Correction

There was many opportunities for growth in that company.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There were many opportunities for growth in that company.
Trouve et corrige l'erreur Error Correction

It is a problem with the Wi-Fi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There is a problem with the Wi-Fi.
Quelle phrase est correcte ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Is there any possibility to reschedule?
Quelle phrase est correcte ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There hasn't been much progress.
Traduis en anglais Traduction

Translate into English: 'Habrá un examen la próxima semana.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["There will be an exam next week.","There's going to be an exam next week."]
Traduis en anglais Traduction

Translate into English: 'No hay ninguna duda.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["There is no doubt.","There's no doubt."]
Remets ces mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There are many problems in life.
Remets ces mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There might be a solution.
Associe les situations avec la forme correcte de 'there' existentiel : Match Pairs

Match the situations with the correct existential 'there' form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Associe les débuts avec les bonnes fins : Match Pairs

Match the beginnings with the correct endings:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

In informal spoken English, yes. People often say `There's three people`. However, in formal writing or exams, you must use `There are` for plural nouns.

Use `There is` to introduce something new (`There is a cat`). Use `It is` to describe something we already know about (`It is a black cat`).

The verb usually agrees with the first item. `There is a pen and two books` is common. If the first item is plural, use are: `There are two books and a pen`.

Yes, in formal or literary English, you can use verbs like `exist`, `remain`, `seem`, or `appear`. Example: `There remains one final question.`

Grammatically, it acts as the subject (the 'dummy subject'), but the 'real' or 'logical' subject is the noun that follows the verb.

Put 'will' before 'there'. Example: `Will there be any food at the party?`

`There is no...` is slightly more emphatic and common in formal writing. Both are correct.

No. Use `There has been` for singular/uncountable and `There have been` for plural. Example: `There has been a change` vs `There have been changes`.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Hay

English requires subject-verb agreement (is/are), whereas 'Hay' is invariant.

French partial

Il y a

French uses the verb 'to have' (avoir), while English uses 'to be'.

German low

Es gibt

The German structure uses 'It' as the subject and 'gives' as the verb, which is very different from English.

Japanese low

あります (arimasu) / います (imasu)

English distinguishes by number (singular/plural), while Japanese distinguishes by 'aliveness'.

Arabic high

هناك (hunāka)

In Arabic, the verb 'to be' is often omitted in the present tense.

Chinese partial

有 (yǒu)

Chinese does not use a placeholder like 'there'; the verb 'have' starts the sentence.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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