There is / There are — introducción
Se usan para decir que existe / hay algo en un lugar o situación. There aquí no significa “allí”, actúa como sujeto vacío.
1) ¿Cuándo usar is y are?
There is + singular / no contable → There is a cat. There are + plural → There are two cats.
Con no contables usa there is: There is milk in the fridge.
2) Formas básicas
| Tipo | Singular / No contable | Plural | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afirmativa | There is a book | There are books | in the bag. (en la mochila) |
| Contraída | There’s a book | (“There’re” es raro; se evita) | on the table. |
| Negativa | There isn’t a book | There aren’t (any) books | here. |
| Pregunta | Is there a book…? | Are there (any) books…? | in your room? |
| Respuestas cortas | Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t. | Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t. | — |
En preguntas y negativas con plural, usa any: Are there any chairs? · There aren’t any chairs.
3) Cantidades comunes (A1)
- a/an (uno/una): There is a park near here.
- some (algunas/os) en afirmativas: There are some apples.
- any en negativas/preguntas: There isn’t any sugar. / Are there any buses?
- a lot of (mucho/s, muchos/as): There are a lot of people. / There is a lot of water.
Orden típico:
There + be + cantidad + sustantivo + lugar → There are two cafés on this street.4) Lugar y tiempo
Es común añadir un complemento de lugar o tiempo:
- There’s a supermarket near my house.
- There are three meetings today.
- Is there a pharmacy around here?
5) Errores comunes
*There is two chairs*✗ → There are two chairs ✓*There’s many people*✗ → There are many people ✓- Evita there’re en escritura; suena forzado.
6) Mini-práctica
- Completa: ________ a bank near here. (there is / there are)
- Negativa plural: ________ (not) any buses at night.
- Pregunta singular: ________ a bathroom on this floor?
- Elige: (There is / There are) ________ milk in the fridge. (no contable)
- Transforma a plural: There is a student in the class. → ______________________________.
Soluciones ejemplo: There is · There aren’t · Is there · There is · There are students in the class.