There Is and There Are: Questions — Lesson 2b

there - questions

Level One

Lesson 2b: there - questions

To ask about the existence or location of things and people, use the word “there.”  

(be) + there ? 

  • Is there a party this weekend? 
  • Are there people on the bus? 
  • Is there problem with the machine? 
  • Are you there? 
  • What’s there? 
  • How many are there? 

In this lesson, you will learn how to use “there” to ask questions. (CEFR: A1) 

group of ballerinas dancing while raising both hands

Is there a performance this weekend? 

Questions
2b. (Be) + subject + there?

Use this word order for people or things in locations: 

Singular

Am I there?  

Are you there? 

Is he there? 

Is she there? 

Plural

Are we there? 

Are you there? 

Are they there? 

Is “there” singular or plural? It depends on the subject in the question or the sentence. When making the question, you must think about the subject and how it matches the verb. 

Questions
2b. (Be) + subject + there?

walking, woman, sidewalk-7002707.jpg
  • A: Are you there? 
  • B: Yes, I am. Where are you?
  • A: I’m not there yet. I’ll be there soon. 
class, discussion, girls-302116.jpg
  • A: Is the teacher there?
  • B: No, he isn’t.   
  • A: Are the students there?
  • A: Yes, they are. 

Questions
2b. (Be) + there + noun?

Use this word order to ask about the presence of a person or thing: 

Singular

Is there a student in the classroom? 

Is there a book on the table? 

Plural

Are there students in the classroom? 

Are there books on the table?  

The word order for this type of question can only be used for third-person singular or plural people or things. 

Questions
2b. (Be) + there + noun?

education, student, boy-3670453.jpg
  • A: Is there a student in the classroom? 
  • B: Yes, there is. 
  • A: Are there other students in the classroom? 
  • B: No, there are not. 
apples, fruits, food-6741164.jpg
  • A: Are there any apples? 
  • B: Yes, there are. 
  • A: Are there any bananas? 
  • B: No, there are not. 

Questions
2b. Question Word + (be) + there?

Question words such as “who” and “what” are often used to make questions for existence or location. 

Singular

What is there? 

Who is there? 

Plural

______ 

Notice that these questions are singular and not plural. When you ask a question like this, you don’t use the plural form: Who are there? or What are there? 

Questions
2b. Question Word + (be) + there?

Two curious children peek through a doorway
  • A: Who is there? 
  • B: Isabel and Maria are there. 
man in black jacket wearing white and black mask
  • A: What is there on his face? 
  • B: It’s a mask.  

Practice

Direction: Write the verb “be” and “there” according to the subject. 

1. __________  ___________ a pen on the table? 

2. __________  ___________ any bananas? 

3. __________ the teacher ___________? 

4. __________ you ____________? 

5. Who __________ ___________? 

6. __________ we __________ yet? 

7. __________ the email message __________? 

8. What __________ ___________ on the table? 

9. __________ ___________ some pumpkins on the table. 

10. __________ ___________ an ambulance outside. 

After you finish Lesson 2, Lesson 2a, and Lesson 2b, you can take this quiz:  Quiz #2 – there + be

In Lesson Three, you will learn how to form contractions with the verb “be”  in the present tense. 

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Level One