Grammar Focus

There is / There are

We use there is (υπάρχει) and there are (υπάρχουν) to say that something exists or is in a place.

There is a book.There are two books.

1. There is (υπάρχει – ενικός)

📘 Theory (Θεωρία)

We use there is before a singular noun (ουσιαστικό στον ενικό) or an uncountable noun (μη μετρήσιμο ουσιαστικό).

  • There is a pencil on the desk.
  • There is a cat under the chair.
  • There is some milk in the fridge.

🧩 Form (Σχηματισμός)

TypeStructureExample
Affirmative (Κατάφαση)There is + singular nounThere is a book.
Negative (Άρνηση)There isn’t + singular nounThere isn’t a ruler.
Question (Ερώτηση)Is there + singular noun?Is there a poster?

✅ Examples (Παραδείγματα)

  • There is a board in the classroom. → Υπάρχει ένας πίνακας στην τάξη.
  • There is a dog in the garden. → Υπάρχει ένας σκύλος στον κήπο.
  • There isn’t a computer on the desk. → Δεν υπάρχει υπολογιστής στο γραφείο.
  • Is there a cinema near here? → Υπάρχει σινεμά εδώ κοντά;

📝 Practice – There is

Complete with There is or There isn’t:

  1. __________ a pencil in my bag.
  2. __________ a sofa in the kitchen.
  3. __________ some water in the bottle.

2. There are (υπάρχουν – πληθυντικός)

📘 Theory (Θεωρία)

We use there are before plural nouns (ουσιαστικά στον πληθυντικό).

  • There are two pencils on the desk.
  • There are three cats in the garden.
  • There are many students in the classroom.

🧩 Form (Σχηματισμός)

TypeStructureExample
Affirmative (Κατάφαση)There are + plural nounThere are books.
Negative (Άρνηση)There aren’t + plural nounThere aren’t any chairs.
Question (Ερώτηση)Are there + plural noun?Are there any posters?

✅ Examples (Παραδείγματα)

  • There are five books on the shelf. → Υπάρχουν πέντε βιβλία στο ράφι.
  • There are two windows in my room. → Υπάρχουν δύο παράθυρα στο δωμάτιό μου.
  • There aren’t any apples in the basket. → Δεν υπάρχουν μήλα στο καλάθι.
  • Are there any shops near your house? → Υπάρχουν μαγαζιά κοντά στο σπίτι σου;

📝 Practice – There are

Complete with There are or There aren’t:

  1. __________ three chairs in the room.
  2. __________ any elephants in my garden.
  3. __________ many children at school today.

3. Comparison & Useful Notes

EnglishGreekUse
There isΥπάρχειsingular / uncountable
There areΥπάρχουνplural

Useful note: In Greek we often use “υπάρχει / υπάρχουν”. In English, we must choose is for one thing and are for more than one.

Short answers

  • Is there a park? → Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.
  • Are there any trees? → Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.

📝 Mixed Practice

A. Choose the correct answer.

  1. There is / There are a cat under the table.
  2. There is / There are two dogs in the park.
  3. There isn’t / There aren’t any milk in the fridge.
  4. Is there / Are there any pencils in your bag?

B. Make questions.

  1. a museum / near here? → __________________________
  2. three bedrooms / in your house? → __________________________
✅ Show answers

There is

  1. There is
  2. There isn’t
  3. There is

There are

  1. There are
  2. There aren’t
  3. There are

Mixed Practice

  1. There is
  2. There are
  3. There isn’t
  4. Are there
  1. Is there a museum near here?
  2. Are there three bedrooms in your house?

THERE IS and THERE ARE in English Conversation

There Is There Are Exercise

THERE IS - THERE ARE in English | Sentences & Questions | Learn English Grammar | Woodward English

NEW There IS, there ARE song | Do you know how to use them?