'There' existentiel (Il y a)
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?'
Overview
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.Hé, regarde ! Ce truc est là !
there is et there are pour introduire de nouvelles informations. Nous appelons cela le there existentiel. Pourquoi ?A cat is on the sofa. Cela sonne comme un robot.
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).there is un problème avec ma commande. Ou, there are trois nouveaux messages dans votre boîte de réception.there's (il y a) une araignée sur son épaule. Et franchement, quel genre d'ami seriez-vous alors ?Word Order Rules
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.
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 !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
there comme un sujet factice. Ce n'est pas une personne ou une chose réelle. C'est juste un fantôme grammatical.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.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 isun nouveau téléphone sur la table. (Je vous dis qu'il est là.)It istrès cher. (Je décris le téléphone dont nous venons de parler.)
there is (il y a) une raison à tout signifie généralement que vous avez oublié pourquoi vous êtes entré dans la cuisine.Formation Pattern
There. Cela sert de fondation.
is. Si vous en voyez deux ou plus, utilisez are.
is (There is water / There is a bug)
are (There are memes / There are people)
There + is + a party + at my house.
There + are + many stars + in the sky.
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 Négation : Ajoutez
not. En anglais informel, nous utilisonsisn'tetaren'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
YesouNo. 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
somepour les phrases positives etanypour 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.)
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
Ami
Is there une table pour nous ?Vous
there's une dans le coin. Mais there aren't de chaises !Ami
there are quelques chaises près de la fenêtre. Allons les prendre.Scénario 2 : Commander à manger en ligne
Vous
Are there des burgers vegans sur cette appli ?Coloc
there is une option dans ce nouvel endroit.Vous
there's des frais de livraison de 10$. Laisse tomber, there's des pâtes dans le frigo.Scénario 3 : Vlogging de voyage
Vous
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
- 1Le piège du
It is: Ne dites pasIt is a book on the table
quand vous voulez direThere is a book on the table. Rappelez-vous :There is= existence.It is= identification/description. - 2L'erreur d'orthographe : Ne confondez pas
ThereavecTheir(le leur) ouThey're(ils sont). Ils se prononcent de la même façon, mais l'autocorrecteur de votre téléphone vous jugera en silence. - 3Confusion Singulier/Pluriel : Dire
There is many people
. Bien que courant dans l'argot très informel, c'est techniquement faux. Restez-en àThere arepour les pluriels. - 4Le
Amanquant : N'oubliez pas l'article ! Ce n'est pasThere is car. C'estThere is a car. - 5Surutiliser
Have: Dans beaucoup de langues, on ditIl a un chat
pour direIl y a un chat
. En anglais, nous ne faisons pas cela. Utilisez simplementthere is.
Quick FAQ
There's pour des choses au pluriel ?R: Dans le langage courant, oui. Mais dans un examen, utilisez toujours There are pour les pluriels.
R: Généralement, le verbe s'accorde avec le *premier* élément de la liste. Donc, There is a pen and two pencils.
there est le sujet de la phrase ?R: Grammaticalement, c'est un espace réservé. Le vrai sujet est le nom qui suit le verbe.
there is au passé ?R: Changez simplement le verbe be. Utilisez there was pour le singulier et there were pour le pluriel.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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?”
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
| 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
There appears to be a discrepancy in the financial records. (Workplace)
There is a mistake in the accounts. (Workplace)
There's a bit of a mess-up with the numbers. (Workplace)
There's a major glitch in the system. (Workplace)
'There' Existentiel vs. 'There' de Lieu
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'
Choisir 'There is' ou 'There are'
Introduis-tu quelque chose pour la première fois ou affirmes-tu son existence ?
Le groupe nominal qui suit est-il singulier, indénombrable ou pluriel ?
Si singulier/indénombrable :
Si pluriel :
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
There is a dog in the park.
There are four chairs in the room.
Is there a supermarket near here?
There are no students in the class.
There was a big party last night.
There weren't any eggs in the fridge.
Will there be a test tomorrow?
There is a lot of sugar in this tea.
There has been an accident on the highway.
There is something I need to tell you.
There used to be a cinema on this street.
Is there anything I can do to help?
There appears to be a slight delay with your flight.
There might have been a misunderstanding during the call.
There is no point in arguing about this now.
There are bound to be some objections to the new policy.
There remains much work to be done before the deadline.
There exists a fundamental flaw in your logic.
There arose a sudden conflict between the two factions.
There's no denying that the climate is changing.
There being no further objections, the motion was passed.
Should there be any changes, we will notify you immediately.
There lived an old fisherman by the sea.
There is but one path to true enlightenment.
Facile à confondre
Learners use 'It' to introduce new things because their native language uses one word for both.
In fast speech, 'There are' and 'They are' can sound similar.
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.
There is two cats.
There are two cats.
Is a park near here?
Is there a park near here?
There are no some chairs.
There are no chairs. / There aren't any chairs.
There was many people.
There were many people.
There is not some milk.
There isn't any milk.
Will be a party?
Will there be a party?
There has been many changes.
There have been many changes.
There is no point to go.
There is no point in going.
I think that there's a lot of problems.
I think that there are a lot of problems.
There remains some issues.
There remain some issues.
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
Is there a washing machine in the apartment?
There seems to be a bug in the latest update.
There were several instances where I had to lead the team.
Are there any nuts in this dish?
There's a new trend going around on TikTok.
There has been an accident! Is there a doctor here?
L'accord est essentiel
There are many books on the shelf.
Ne confonds pas les 'There'
The keys are over there on the table., ce n'est pas le même 'there'.
Adopte les contractions
Le contexte, c'est tout
There is a good reason for this.
Introduction douce
There are many trees in the forest.
Évite la surutilisation
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'.
Start with 'There was' to paint a picture for the reader.
Just match the verb to the very first noun you say.
Always use 'any' in the question.
Prononciation
The 'There's' Contraction
In natural speech, 'There is' is almost always contracted to 'There's'. The 's' sounds like a /z/.
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
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
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
___ a lot of cars on the road today.
Find and fix the mistake:
There is three main points in her argument.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercises_______ many reasons why I love this city.
How should you mention a possible error?
Find and fix the mistake:
In the fridge it is some milk.
A storm is coming.
1. Is there any coffee? 2. Are there any cookies?
A: Excuse me, _______ a bank near here? B: Yes, _______ one just around the corner.
Select the existential use.
Present Perfect form:
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesIn my hometown, ___ a beautiful park near the river.
Before the invention of phones, ___ no instant communication.
There was many opportunities for growth in that company.
It is a problem with the Wi-Fi.
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Habrá un examen la próxima semana.'
Translate into English: 'No hay ninguna duda.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the situations with the correct existential 'there' form:
Match the beginnings with the correct endings:
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
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hay
English requires subject-verb agreement (is/are), whereas 'Hay' is invariant.
Il y a
French uses the verb 'to have' (avoir), while English uses 'to be'.
Es gibt
The German structure uses 'It' as the subject and 'gives' as the verb, which is very different from English.
あります (arimasu) / います (imasu)
English distinguishes by number (singular/plural), while Japanese distinguishes by 'aliveness'.
هناك (hunāka)
In Arabic, the verb 'to be' is often omitted in the present tense.
有 (yǒu)
Chinese does not use a placeholder like 'there'; the verb 'have' starts the sentence.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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