Definition of "There is/are" Subject-Verb Agreement with Sentence Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Use "there is" with singular nouns and uncountable nouns.
• 💡 Use "there are" with plural nouns.
• 📝 The subject comes *after* "there is/are". This is important for agreement!
• 🌍 Examples:
  • ✅ There *is* a book on the table. (singular noun)
  • ✅ There *is* milk in the fridge. (uncountable noun)
  • ✅ There *are* books on the table. (plural noun)
• 🧪 Be careful with compound subjects. If the first subject is singular, use "is". If the first subject is plural, use "are".
• 🔢 Example of compound subject: There *is* a pen and a book on the desk. (singular comes first, so use *is*)
• 🧬 Example of compound subject: There *are* books and a pen on the desk. (plural comes first, so use *are*)

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
   1. There is five apples on the tree.
   2. There are five apple on the tree.
   3. There are five apples on the tree.
   4. There is five apple on the tree.
2. Choose the correct form: There ______ a cat sleeping on the couch.
   1. are
   2. is
   3. were
   4. be
3. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
   1. There is many reasons to be happy.
   2. There are many reason to be happy.
   3. There are many reasons to be happy.
   4. There is many reason to be happy.
4. Complete the sentence: There ______ no sugar left in the jar.
   1. are
   2. were
   3. is
   4. be
5. Which sentence uses "there is/are" correctly with a compound subject?
   1. There is two chairs and a table in the room.
   2. There are two chair and a table in the room.
   3. There are two chairs and a table in the room.
   4. There is two chairs and a table in the room.
6. There ______ a problem with the computer.
   1. are
   2. were
   3. is
   4. be
7. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
   1. There are a cloud in the sky.
   2. There is clouds in the sky.
   3. There is a cloud in the sky.
   4. There are cloud in the sky.