Problem Spots: There is, There are

Problem Spots

There is, There are

Subject +  has/have

■   If you use there is/there are, it’s a good idea to say the location (where).

     There is a painting by the artist Van Gough in the living room.

     There is enough space for two cars in the garage.

     There are three bedrooms in my apartment.

     There are lots of closets in my place.

     There are cockroaches in the kitchen.

■   When you use subject + has/have, you don’t need to say the location because the subject is the location.

     The dining room has a painting by Van Gough. (subject = dining room)

          =There is a painting by Van Gough in the dining room.           

     The rooms have cockroaches.  (subject = rooms)

           =There are cockroaches in the rooms.

     My garage has enough space for two cars. (subject = garage)

           =There is enough space for two cars in my garage.

     The apartments have three bedrooms.

           =There are three bedrooms in the apartments.

     They have lots of storage space.

           =There is lots of storage space* in the apartments.

             *closets, cabinets, shelves, 仓库, 储藏库, sitios para guardar cosas, кладовка

Common Mistakes

■   Don’t say:         There has or There have.

     Wrong:     There has a greenhouse in the backyard.  No!!!

                        There have two Chinese vases in the entry.  No!!!

     Right:        There is a greenhouse in the backyard. or

                        The backyard has a greenhouse.                                               

                        There are two Chinese vases in the entry.  or

                        The entry has two Chinese vases. 

■   Make sure the subject matches the verb.

     Wrong:             My place have a view of the Bay Bridge.  No!!!

     Right:        My place has a view of the Bay Bridge.

What a creepy place! (爬着走的, horripilante, жуткий )   level5.podomatic.com  5-5012601p1 

Rewrite each sentence.  Change there is/there are to have/has.

Example:  There is a coffin in my bedroom instead of a bed.

→ My bedroom has a coffin (棺材, ataúd, гроб) instead of a bed.

1.   There are two graves* in the backyard.  *坟墓, tumbas, могила        

2.   There are three toilets in the bathroom.

3.   There are two snakes in the bathtub.

4.   There isn’t a stove in the kitchen.

5.   There aren’t any shelves in the cupboards. 

Answers

1. The backyard has two graves.

2. The bathroom has three toilets.

3. The bathtub has two snakes (in it).

4. The kitchen doesn’t have a stove.

5. The cupboards don’t have any shelves.

Now change have/has to there is/there are.  Don’t forget to say where!

example My dining room has a jacuzzi.

→ There is a Jacuzzi* in my dining room.  *佳骨肌泡沫浴缸, bañera de hidromasaje, джаку́зи       

6.   The back yard has a piranha pond. *南美产的小鱼, piraña, пиранья   a pond: a very small lake

→

7.   The bedroom ceiling has mirrors.

8.   The shower only has cold water.              

9.   The balcony doesn’t have any railing*. *围栏, pasamanos, перила

10.     The house doesn’t have any heat.

Answers:

6. There is a piranha pond in the back yard. (Piranhas are fish with very sharp teeth that can eat people and animals in seconds.)

7. There are mirrors on the bedroom ceiling.

8. There is only cold water in the shower.

9. There isn’t any railing on the balcony.

10.     There isn’t any heat in the house.