there - negative
Level One
Lesson 2a: there — negative
When a situation is negative, add “not” to the verb “be.” There are two main reasons for doing this: 1. Something or someone is not in a location; 2. Something or someone does not exist.
- She’s not at home. She’s not there. (location)
- There isn’t time to finish this. (existence)
- There isn’t anyone there. (existence and location)
- There’s nothing there. (existence and location)
- There aren’t people on the moon. (existence)
In this lesson, you will learn how to use “there” for sentences. (CEFR: A1)
There aren’t any words on this piece of paper.
There’s nothing there.
2a. Subject + (be) + not + there.
These sentences are for a location. there = a place
Singular
I am not there.
You are not there.
He is not there.
She is not there.
It is not there.
Plural
We are not there.
You are not there.
They are not there.
2a. Subject + (be) + not + there.
(be) + not
- You are not there.
- You’re not there.
- I am not there.
- I’m not there.
- We are not there.
- We’re not there.
2a. There + (be) + no/not + noun.
To say that something does not exist, put “there” at the beginning of the sentence. Then choose a form of “be” that matches a noun.
Singular
There is no time.
There isn’t any time.
There is no information.
There isn’t any information.
Plural
There are no students.
There aren’t any students.
There are no problems.
There aren’t any problems.
Contractions are often used in sentences like these. There isn’t any time. / There aren’t any problems. You will learn about contractions in Lesson Three.
2a. There + (be) + no/not + noun.
There + (be) + no + noun.
- There is no food on the table yet.
Practice
Directions: Write the negative form of the verb “be” for each sentence.
1. There __________ any time.
2. There __________ any books on the shelf.
3. The information __________ there.
4. The money __________ there.
5. The opportunities __________ there.
6. My jacket __________ there.
7. There ___________ a class today.
8. There ___________ many cars on the road.
9. There ___________ anyone there.
10. I _________ __________ there.
In Lesson 2b, you will learn how to form questions with the verb “be” and “there” in the present tense.