How Do We Ask About One Thing?
When you want to ask if one specific item exists in a place, use Is there…?
- We use Is there + a/an + singular noun + place?
Remember to use a before words that start with a consonant sound (like ‘book’) and an before words that start with a vowel sound (like ‘apple’).
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How Do We Ask About More Than One Thing?
When you want to ask if many items exist in a place, use Are there…?
- We use Are there + plural noun + place?
For plural questions, we often use any before the plural noun, especially when we don’t know the exact number.
How Do We Give Short Answers?
After asking a question with Is there…? or Are there…?, you can give a short, simple answer.
- For one thing (singular):
Yes, there is.
No, there isn’t. - For many things (plural):
Yes, there are.
No, there aren’t.
These short answers are common in everyday conversation.
When Do We Use ‘a’, ‘an’, or ‘any’?
These small words are important when you ask questions about existence.
- Use a or an with singular nouns in questions:
Is there a park near here?
Is there an airport in your city? - Use any with plural nouns in questions and negative answers:
Are there any books on the shelf?
No, there aren’t any books.
We usually do not use any with singular nouns in questions.
| Type | Question | Positive Answer | Negative Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular (one) | Is there a book? | Yes, there is. | No, there isn’t. |
| Plural (many) | Are there any books? | Yes, there are. | No, there aren’t. |
Examples
- Is there a supermarket near your house?
- Yes, there is. It’s very close.
- Is there an elevator in this building?
- No, there isn’t. You have to use the stairs.
- Are there any restaurants open late?
- Yes, there are. Two restaurants are open until midnight.
- Are there children playing in the garden?
- No, there aren’t. The garden is empty.
- Is there a problem?
- No, there isn’t a problem. Everything is fine.
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers often use ‘Hay’ for both questions and statements, and for singular and plural. In English, we must be careful:
- Mistake: Using There is a book? (Incorrect word order for a question)
Correct: Is there a book? (We invert ‘there’ and ‘is’ for questions.) - Mistake: Using Are chairs in the room? (Missing ‘there’)
Correct: Are there chairs in the room? (Always include ‘there’ when asking about existence.) - Mistake: Forgetting ‘a’ or ‘an’ with singular nouns:
Is there car outside? (Incorrect)
Correct: Is there a car outside? - Mistake: Not using ‘any’ with plural questions or negative answers:
Are there books on the table? (Okay, but any is more natural)
No, there aren’t books. (Incorrect)
Correct: Are there any books on the table?
Correct: No, there aren’t any books.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between ‘Is there…?’ and ‘Are there…?’
The main difference is about quantity. We use Is there…? to ask about one thing (singular noun). We use Are there…? to ask about more than one thing (plural noun).
Why do we use ‘a’ or ‘an’ with ‘Is there…?’
We use a or an with Is there…? because we are asking about one specific, but not identified, item. For example, Is there a pen? means ‘one pen’.
Can I use ‘any’ with ‘Is there…?’
No, we do not usually use any with Is there…? because any is for plural or uncountable nouns in questions and negative sentences. For singular countable nouns, use a or an.
How do I answer ‘Is there…?’ or ‘Are there…?’ questions?
For Is there…?, answer Yes, there is. or No, there isn’t. For Are there…?, answer Yes, there are. or No, there aren’t.
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