Video A : Introduction to answering negatively to questions with “There + be”

Hello and welcome

to your MES eLesson.

I'm Michael.

Today you’re going

to learn
the what, the how
and the when of
answering “There + be” questions negatively.

Let’s start with “WHAT.”

What are
these answers and statements used for?

They are used to talk

about something’s
non-existence.

For example,

If you want to talk about one thing:

“There isn’t a delay.”

If you want to talk about two things or more:

“There aren’t delays.”

Good.

Now, let’s learn “HOW.”

How do you use these answers and statements?

First, know how

to conjugate
“there” + “be”, using contractions.

There are two ways

to make the
contractions
– we will practice both as
they are both commonly used.

If you want to talk

about one thing,
please repeat:

No, there isn’t

-
-
Or,

No, there’s not

-
-
If you want to talk
about two or more things:

Please repeat:

No, there aren’t

-
-
We will use the first contraction when
we practice.

It’s very important

to memorize this
conjugation fluently
before you start
practicing Video B.

Next,
study your vocabulary.

For example,

There isn’t:
a monopoly.
a difference.
an end.

Remember, be sure to pronounce the “an” before nouns that begin with vowel sounds.

For example,
“There isn’t a monopoly.”

“There isn’t an end.”

Finally, to build a more specific answer,

you can use an adjective,

for example,

“There isn’t a midnight train.”

“There isn’t an early train.”

“There isn’t an express train.”

or a prepositional phrase,

for example;

“There isn’t a train to Smithville”.

“There isn’t a train at the station.”

“There isn’t a train in the next hour.”

So, finally, when do you use these answers and statements?

You use them to talk about something’s non-existence in the present,

or example:

“There isn’t a law against that.”

“There isn’t a sale at Lotte.”
“There isn’t a car for rent.”

Excellent!

Quick Review

Now, let’s review!

First, what are negative “There + be” answers and statements used for?
They are used for
talking about non-existence.
Second, how do you use these answers and statements?
You use them by
knowing the
conjugation
of There + Be,
and building a
more specific
answer with the
vocabulary.
Third, when do you use these answers and statements? You use
them to talk about something’s non-existence in the present.

Well done! Let’s move

on to Video B to really practice making
your own answers! Remember to
keep on reviewing your vocabulary.
I'm Michael and I’ll see you back here soon.

Video B : Practicing negatively answering questions with “There + be”.

Hi and welcome back

to your MES eLesson.

I’m Michael.

Now that
you understand
the concept of answering questions negatively with
“There + be”,
let’s practice.

Before we begin,
let's review the
conjugation that you
learned in Video A.

Let’s practice your

pronunciation and your conversation speed.

Please repeat after me.

No, there isn’t

-
-
Good, let’s do it faster.

No, there isn’t

-
-
Excellent.

No, there aren’t

-
-
Good, let’s speed it up again.

No, there aren’t

-
-
Good, that’s the speed
you should use in order
to speak fluently.

Now let’s review that conjugation.

Start by telling me about one thing.

-
-
Good.

Please repeat.

There isn’t
-
-
Tell me about two or more things.
-
-
Nice,

please repeat.

There aren’t
-
-
Great!

Now that you’ve memorized this conjugation, let’s build

a full answer with the noun "a difficulty".
Please repeat after me:

No, there isn’t a difficulty.

-
-
No, there aren’t difficulties.
-
-
Remember, it’s important to pronounce the “s” when you talk about more than one noun.

Let’s do that one again:

No, there aren’t difficulties.

-
-
Exactly.

Now, let’s practice making your own answers with other nouns.

Please read and

listen first, and then answer the question.

Is there a situation?
-
-
Good!

Please repeat.
No, there isn’t a situation.
-
-
Super.

Please answer.

Are there situations?

-
-
Please repeat.

No, there aren’t situations.

-
-
Is there a concert?
-
-
Good!

Please repeat.

No, there isn’t a concert.

-
-
Great!

Are there concerts?

-
-
Nice.

Please repeat.

No, there aren’t concerts.

-
-
Exactly.

Is there a policy?
-
-
Good!

Please repeat.
No, there isn’t a policy.
-
-
Super.

Are there policies?

-
-
Please repeat.

No, there aren’t policies.

-
-
Exactly.

Is there a complaint?
-
-
Good!

Please repeat.
 No, there isn’t a complaint.
-
-
Are there complaints?
-
-
Please repeat.

No, there aren’t complaints.

-
-
Super.

Now let’s practice some modern English.

“A complaint” can also be called “a beef.”

Is there a beef?
-
-
Please repeat.

No, there isn’t a beef.

-
-
Good!

Are there beefs?

-
-
Please repeat.

No, there aren’t beefs.

-
-
Great!

Let’s add an adjective to make the answer more specific, using the noun “a solution.”

“a logical solution”

Is there a logical solution?

-
-
Good!
Please repeat.

No, there isn’t a logical solution.

-
-
Are there logical solutions?
-
-
Please repeat.
No, there aren’t logical solutions.
-
-
Good.

Let’s use a prepositional phrase with the noun “a complaint.”

a complaint about the service

Is there a complaint about the service?

-
-
Please repeat.

No, there isn’t a complaint about the service.

-
-
Are there complaints about the service?
-
-
Good!

Please repeat.

No, there aren’t complaints about the service.\

-
-
Well done!

Please practice
with this video until
you are able to answer
questions fluently!

Remember it’s important to practice more by

making your own answers using the vocabulary!