ENGLISH SKILL -8

                                        there is, there are, there will be                                                                                                                                                      

The word ‘there’ is one of the most frequently used word in spoken English , because it an introductory subject .The speakers of English  must be familiar with its usage pattern. Let’s go ahead,  where there is a will there is a way.

There is used in two ways

1. ‘There’ as an adverb of place ( Pointing to people or things at a particular place)

Your book is kept there.

What’s the small thing over there.

2. ‘There’ as an introductory subject (Please go to grammar for subject def.)

When’ there’ is used as a dummy/introductory  subject  it indicates existence or non existence of something , when the subject of a sentence is not clearly defined. For explanation about  ‘subject’ please visit grammar page.

There    as an introductory subject

There are two cats on the wall, sounds more natural than two cats on the wall (Though the second sentence is grammatically correct)

There is a party today sounds more natural than a party today.

There is a train at 10.p.m sounds more  natural than train at 10.p.m

 There is (With present or future indication)

There is used in casual way (for present  and  future indication)

There is a meeting now (Present)

There is a meeting tomorrow. (Future)

Pattern

Singular -  There is                     Plural -  There are

Simple sentence- There is/are + information

Negative sentence - There is/are  no…../There isn’t (or aren’t)……

‘yes/no’  question – is/are there………?

‘yes/no’ negative question – isn’t/aren’t there …….?

‘wh’ question -  ‘wh’ is/are ....? (there is dropped)

Five important types of spoken sentences (Casual way)

There is  a meeting  tonight. (Simple sentence/information/news/message etc.))

There is no meeting  tonight./There isn't any meeting tonight  (negative sentence)

Is there any  meeting tonight?  (‘yes/no’ question)

Isn’t  there any  meeting  tonight? (‘yes/no’ negative question)

When is the meeting ?/ What time is the meeting? There is dropped  (‘wh’ question)

Each of the above types may be uttered in eight or more moods of utterance

There was (Past indication)

Pattern

Singular -  There was                     Plural -  There were

Simple sentence- There was/were  + information

Negative sentence - There was/were  no…..……or There wasn’t /weren’t  any …….

‘yes/no’  question – was/were there any ………?

‘yes/no’ negative question – wasn’t/weren’t there  any …….?

‘wh’ question -  ‘wh’ was/were………..(there is dropped )

Five important types of spoken sentences (a/any/the  used according to  the context )

There was a meeting yesterday. (simple  sentence/message//information/news etc.)

There wasn’t any meeting yesterday. (Negative statement)

Was there  any meeting yesterday?(‘yes/no’ question)

Wasn’t there any  meeting yesterday?(‘yes/no’ negative question)

What time was the meeting yesterday ? /When was  the meeting  yesterday ? (‘wh’ question)

Each of the above types may be uttered in eight or more moods of utterance

There will be  ( Future indication)

Pattern

Singular -  There will be                    Plural -  There will be

Simple sentence- There will be……….

Negative sentence - There won’t be/will not be..…

‘yes/no’  question – will there be…….?

‘yes/no’ negative question – won’t there be …….?

‘wh’ question -  when will be ………..? (there is avoided)

Five important types of spoken sentences

There will be a meeting next week (Simple statement/message/news/information etc.)

There won’t be any  meeting next week. (Negative sentence)

Will there be a meeting  next week (‘yes/no’ question)

Won’t there be a meeting next week? (‘yes/no’ question)

When will be the meeting ? (‘Wh’ question)- there is dropped

Each of the above types may be uttered in eight or more moods of utterance

NOTE:  Most of the speakers  tend to ignore there will be in favour of there is/are  because it servers both as present and future indicator.

More sentences

There is a train 10'O clock

There will be a strike tomorrow/There is a strike tomorrow

There will be a holiday tomorrow./There is a holiday tomorrow

Will there be a/any  meeting tomorrow?/Is there  a/any  meeting tomorrow?

There is no one in the office.

There are 200 students in the English class.

How much tea is there in the flask?

Are there any letters for me?

Can I take a photograph? You can’t , There is no charge .

Is there a train to  Frankfurt   now? No, there  is a train at 11 p.m.

Was there rain  yesterday? No there wasn’t any rain yesterday.

There is no class today.

Short dialogues

‘Can I take a photograph?’ ‘ You can’t , There is no charge .’

‘Is there a train to  Frankfurt   now?’ ‘ No, there  is a train at 11 p.m.’/’No , there is one at 11.p.m’

‘Is there any problem?’ ‘ Nothing.’

‘What’s wrong?’ ‘ There is something in my eyes.’

‘Excuse me is there a hotel near here?’ ‘ No there isn’t any..... .’

‘Are there any messages for me today?’ ‘ No there aren't.’

‘How many players are there in this game?’ ‘ There are  11 players / eleven.’

There is a train at 12.15. ‘Is it a fast train?’  ‘ No it is a mail’.

‘Is there a drug store (Pharmacy) near here?’ ‘No, I am afraid not.’

‘Excuse me is there a post office near here ?’ ‘ m m m   yes there is one at the end of the street,’

‘Is there a train from this railway station to  the city centre ?’ ‘yes every 10 minutes.