There Is / There Are vs It Is: Introducing and Identifying Information

There is/are and it is can both appear at the beginning of a sentence, but they answer different questions. The first introduces existence; the second identifies or describes a specific referent.

Use there is / there are to introduce something

Use there is with a singular noun or uncountable noun and there are with plural nouns. The construction tells the listener that something exists or is present.

• There is a pharmacy near the station.
• There is some milk in the fridge.
• There are three messages for you.

Use it is to identify or describe

Use it is when the listener already knows what it refers to, or when you identify time, weather, distance, or a particular thing.

• It is my new laptop.
• It is cold today.
• It is five kilometres from here.
• Where is the pharmacy? It is next to the bank.

Information flow matters

A natural paragraph often introduces something with there is and then continues with it. This mirrors how information moves from new to known.

• There is a new café on our street. It is open until midnight.
• There are two options. They are both affordable.

Questions and negatives

The same distinction remains in questions and negatives.

• Is there a problem? / There isn’t a problem.
• Are there any seats? / There aren’t any seats.
• Is it a problem? / It isn’t serious.

Common mistakes to avoid

• It is a new restaurant near my office is possible only if you are identifying a known restaurant; to introduce one, use There is a new restaurant near my office.
• Do not use there have to mean existence: use there is/are.

Quick practice

1. Introduce a new park near your home.
2. Refer back to that park and describe it.
3. Ask whether any shops are open.

Suggested answers: Possible answers: There is a new park near my home. It is very quiet. Are there any shops open?

Key takeaway

Ask yourself whether you are introducing existence or referring to an already identified thing. That simple information-flow question usually determines the correct structure.