1.There /Ðeə(R)/ Is an Adverb Meaning, in That Place

There and There

The word ‘there’ is actually two words with the same spelling and, as you might expect, this can cause a lot of confusion. The pronunciation is also different, but it is unlikely that you would notice.

1.There /ðeə(r)/ is an adverb meaning, in that place

There is Ann.(There [adverb] is [verb] Ann [subject])

There is our bus.

There goes our bus (= we have missed it).

There it is.(There [adverb] it [pronoun] is [verb])

What is that green thing over there?

Notice the word order: the verb comes before the subject unless the subject is a pronoun.

Common error:

I am going to there.

going to must be followed by a verb or a noun, usually the name of a place

I am going tobuy some new clothes. I am going toTaipei tomorrow.

2.There /ðə(r)/ is used as an introductory subject in sentences beginning there is, there are, there seems to be, there might be, and so on.

When we tell people that something exists (or does not exist) we usually begin the sentence with there is, there are, etc. and put the main subject after the verb.

There is a big white cat in the bathroom.

There seems to be a problem in the bathroom.

There might be a better way.

Once upon a time there were three wicked sisters.

Notice also the expressions There’s no sense in [verb]+ing, There’s no point in [verb]+ing, There’s no need to [verb].

For example:

There’s no sense in making her angry.There’s no point in waiting for me. There’s no need to talk about it again.

Common errors:

There has a lot of interesting shops. (Error = There is used as the main subject, not an introductory subject)

There has a man at the door.

Correct:

There are a lot of interesting shops in town.

There is a man at the door.

There are/were is very commonly used in sentences that say how many people or things a group contains.

There are three people in my family. There are seven of us in my family. There were eight guests for dinner. There are at least twenty people in that room.

When the subject of the sentence is some, any, no, somebody, anybody, nobody, something, anything or nothing, the sentence is often introduced with There [be].

There are some people outside.

There were no cakes in the shop.

Is there anybody at home?

There is something worrying me.

Is there anything nice in the fridge?

There is nothing wrong with him.

Is there anything the matter?