there is / there are
A1 there is / there are 9 / 50
概要
用 there is / there are 表示某物存在或位于某处。there is 用于单数(或不可数名词),there are 用于两个或更多的事物。
规则
There + be 用来引出新信息。真正的主语在动词 之后,动词要和这个主语保持一致。
- There is + 单数名词或不可数名词:There is a book on the table. There is some milk.
- There are + 复数名词:There are two cafes near my house.
句末常常加上地点(on the table, near my house, in the box),但并不是必须的:There is a problem.
不要把 there 和 it 弄混。There 表示某物存在。It 用来指代,或回指我们已经知道的事物。
| 用 there(表示存在) | 用 it(表示指代) |
|---|---|
| There is a problem. | It is a big problem. |
| There is a dog in the garden. | It is a friendly dog. |
形式与结构
肯定式
| 主语在动词之后 | 形式 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 单数/不可数 | there is (there’s) | There’s a key in the drawer. |
| 复数 | there are | There are four chairs. |
否定式
| 形式 | 例句 |
|---|---|
| there is not / there isn’t | There isn’t a bus today. |
| there are not / there aren’t | There aren’t any seats. |
| there is no + 名词 | There’s no time. |
| there are no + 名词 | There are no windows. |
疑问句和简答
| 问题 | 简答(是) | 简答(否) |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a lift? | Yes, there is. | No, there isn’t. |
| Are there any shops? | Yes, there are. | No, there aren’t. |
简答里不重复名词:Yes, there is.(而不是 Yes, there is a lift.)
遇到并列的几样东西时,动词通常和第一项保持一致:
- There is a pen and two books on the desk.(第一项是 a pen,单数)
- There are two books and a pen on the desk.(第一项是 two books,复数)
缩略形式:there’s 在口语和书面语中都很常见。There’re(there are 的缩略形式)在口语里能听到,但书面语中很少这样写——完整形式要写成 there are。
过去时(详见第 14 课):用 there was(单数)和 there were(复数):There was a party. There were many guests.
例句
| English | 说明 |
|---|---|
| There is a cat under the chair. | 单数事物 -> 用单数形式 is。 |
| There’s some bread in the kitchen. | 不可数名词 + 缩略形式 there’s。 |
| There are three messages for you. | 复数名词 -> are。 |
| There isn’t a clock in this room. | 否定式单数。 |
| There aren’t any clean cups. | 否定式复数,用 any。 |
| There’s no reason to worry. | there’s no + 名词 = 强调“完全没有”。 |
| Is there a bank near here? | 一般疑问句,单数。 |
| There is a table and two lamps in the hall. | 并列:动词和第一项保持一致(a table)。 |
常见错误
- There are a book on the desk. -> There is a book on the desk.——单数要用 is。
- There is two cafes. -> There are two cafes.——复数要用 are。
- It is a problem with the car.(用来引出话题)-> There is a problem with the car.——要用 there 来表示存在。
- There aren’t no seats. -> There aren’t any seats. / There are no seats.——一句话只用一个否定词,不要用两个。
- Yes, there is a lift.(作为简答)-> Yes, there is.——不要重复名词。
学习提示
- 看动词后面紧跟的名词:单数或不可数名词 -> 用 is;两个或更多 -> 用 are。
- There’s no 和 there isn’t a / there aren’t any 意思相同;no 听起来语气更强一些。
- There 表示“它存在”;it 表示“我在说这个已知的东西”。如果能明确指出一个已经提到过的事物,就用 it。
- 表示过去时,只需把 is/are 换成 was/were——其余部分保持不变。