Learn English from A to Z

THERE IS, THERE ARE

Negatives and Questions

The negative forms of there is and there are are formed by placing not after the verb. The contracted forms isn’t and aren’t are generally used.

Example 1:

There is a book in my bag.

There is not a book in my bag. There isn’t a book in my bag.

Example 2:

There are two students absent today.

There are not two students absent today. There aren’t two students absent today.

The question forms of there is and there are are formed by placing the verb before there.

Example 1:

There is a window in the room.

Is there a window in the room?

Example 2:

There are four windows in the room.

Are there four windows in the room?

Exercises

A. Change the following sentences from affirmative to negative. Use either the long or the contracted form. 

1. There is a cat in the garden. (There is not a cat in the garden / There isn’t a cat in the garden.)
2. There are three books on the table.
3. There is milk in the fridge.
4. There are many people at the party.
5. There is a new movie playing at the cinema.
6. There are fresh flowers in the vase.
7. There is a good restaurant near the park.
8. There are two pencils in the pencil case.
9. There is an interesting article in the magazine.
10. There are several birds sitting on the roof.

B. Change the sentences in Exercise A to questions.

1. There is a cat in the garden. (Is there a cat in the garden?)