Grammar revision

“There is” / “There are”: Expressing existence and location.

(“Hay”: Expresión de existencia y ubicación.)
There is: Singular form
(“Hay”: Forma singular)

1. Affirmative sentences
(Oraciones afirmativas)

When we want to say that something or somebody exists or is in a particular place, we use
the singular form “there is”:
(Cuando queremos expresar que algo o alguien existe o que está en un determinado lugar,
usamos el singular “there is”:)

● There is a chair in the bathroom.

We can also use the contracted form “there’s”:

(También podemos usar la forma corta “there’s”:)

● There’s a computer on the chair.

2. Negative sentences
(Oraciones negativas)

To express that somebody or something does not exist or is not in a particular place, we use
the singular form “there isn’t”:
(Para expresar que alguien o algo no existe o no está en un lugar determinado, usamos la
forma singular “there isn’t”:)

● There isn’t a big school.

3. Interrogative sentences: Yes/no questions

(Oraciones interrogativas: preguntas cuya respuesta es “Sí” o “No”)

To ask about the existence of one person or thing, we use the singular form “Is there…?”,
like this:
(Para preguntar sobre la existencia de una persona o cosa, usamos la forma singular “Is
there…?”, así:)

● Is there a chair in the kitchen? Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.
 There are: Plural form
(“Hay”: Forma plural)

1. Affirmative sentences
(Oraciones afirmativas)

When we want to say that more than one person or thing exist or are in a particular place,
we use the plural form “there are”:
(Cuando queremos decir que más de una persona u objeto existen o están en un
determinado lugar, usamos el plural “there are”:)

● There are four chairs in the kitchen.

2. Negative sentences
(Oraciones negativas)

To express that some people or things do not exist or are not in a particular place, we use
the plural form “there aren’t”:
(Para expresar que algunas personas o cosas no existen o no están en un lugar
determinado, usamos la forma plural “there aren’t”:)

● There aren’t museums in my town.

3. Interrogative sentences: yes/no questions

(Oraciones interrogativas: Preguntas cuya respuesta es “Sí” o “No”)

To ask about the existence of people or things, we use the plural form “Are there…?”, like
this:
(Para preguntar sobre la existencia de personas o cosas, usamos la forma plural “Are
there…?”, así:)

● Are there mountains in your town? Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.