there + is/are + noun + placeUse this pattern to introduce something in a place. Choose is or are from the noun after there.
There Is vs Have
A2Use there is / there are to say that something exists in a place. Use have / has to say who owns, contains, or includes something.
What you'll learn
- Say that something exists in a place with there is / there are.
- Say what a person or thing has with have / has.
- Choose is or are from the noun after there.
- Choose have or has from the subject.
- Use place clues to recognize there is / there are.
Structure
subject + have/has + nounUse this pattern when the subject owns, contains, includes, or carries something.
Build a sentence
Subject
Item
Thereisa deskin the room
There is a desk in the room.
Use there is to introduce one thing in a place.
When to use
What is in a place
Use there is / there are when you talk about things in a room, building, street, bag, or city. You are introducing what exists there.
Owner or container
Use have / has when the subject is the owner or container: Anna has a bike. The hotel has a pool. My bag has two pockets.
Features
Use have / has for parts and features of people and things: The apartment has a balcony. Lisa has blue eyes.
Markers
in the roomon the tablenear herein the bagon the wallat the station
Common mistakes
Wrong
The room has a desk and two chairs.
Correct
There is a desk and two chairs in the room.
To introduce what exists in a place, use there is / there are, not have.
Wrong
Maria there is a new laptop.
Correct
Maria has a new laptop.
When the subject is the owner, use have / has.
Wrong
There is two phones on the desk.
Correct
There are two phones on the desk.
The noun after there is plural, so use are.
Wrong
Tom have a small office.
Correct
Tom has a small office.
A singular subject like Tom takes has.
Common misconceptions
❝ There is and have mean the same thing, so I can choose either one. ❞
Choose from the subject. Use there is / there are for existence in a place. Use have / has for an owner, container, or thing with features.
❝ If the subject is a place like room or hotel, I must use have. ❞
A place can be the owner or container with have, but if you introduce what exists in that place, use there is / there are.
Skills in this rule (6)
USE_THERE_IS_FOR_WHATS_IN_A_PLACEw5Use there is / there are to say that something exists in a place
Choose there is / there are when you introduce something and say where it is. The sentence often includes a place phrase like on the table or in the room.
USE_HAVE_FOR_PEOPLE_AND_THINGSw5Use have / has to talk about what someone or something possesses
Choose have / has when the subject owns, contains, carries, or includes something. The subject is the person or thing that has it.
CHOOSE_SINGULAR_OR_PLURAL_AFTER_THEREw4Match is or are to the noun after there
After there, choose is with a singular noun and are with a plural noun. Look at the noun that comes next, not at the place phrase.
CHOOSE_HAVE_OR_HASw4Choose have or has from the subject
Use has with he, she, it, or one singular name. Use have with I, you, we, they, and plural subjects.
SPOT_PLACE_CLUESw3Use place clues to choose there is / there are
Words like in the room, on the wall, and near the station often signal existence in a place. These clues help you choose there is / there are instead of have / has.
SPOT_OWNER_CLUESw3Use owner clues to choose have / has
A clear owner such as Anna, the hotel, my phone, or our office often signals have / has. The subject is the person or thing that possesses or contains something.