There is, there are – Use

We use there is, there are to say that something exists.

There is a lot of noise. 

Where something is

We often use there is, there are to say where something is.

There is a good restaurant at the end of the street. 

There are some keys in that box. 

When something happens

We can also use there is, there are to say when something happens.

There is a concert tonight.

There are a lot of storms in summer.

A, some, any

We often use  there is, there are + a, some, any.

There is + singular / there are + plural

We use there is + singular noun, and there are + plural noun.

There is a new teacher in the school. 

There are some problems that we need to solve.

We use there is + a list of things if the first noun after there is is singular.

In the room, there is a bed, a wardrobe and two chairs. 

There is, there are, there was, there were – Form

Present and past

The past form of there is, there are is there was, there were.

There is a car in the street. ⇒ There was a car in the street.

There are some cars in the street. ⇒ There were some cars in the street.

Short forms

The short form of there is is there’s, but we don’t use a short form of there are. There’s is not used in short answers.

There’s a new secretary in the office.

There are two bathrooms in this house. 

There are no short forms for there was/there were.

In negative sentences, we often use the short forms there isn’t/there aren’t and there wasn’t/weren’t.

There isn’t any bread left. We need to buy more.

There aren’t any cookies in the jar.