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 areThere are four chairs.

否定式

形式例句
there is not / there isn’tThere isn’t a bus today.
there are not / there aren’tThere 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。