THERE IS/ THERE ARE There is and there are means something exists. There is Use "there is" (there's) for a noun - singular. Example: There is a mouse in the bag. There are Use "there are" for a noun - plural. Example: There are four girls in a team. There is = there's The contraction of there is is there's. There is no short form for there are! Negativ form of "there is" and "there are" Examples: There is a car. There are four balls. There isn't a car. There aren't four balls. Place there is and there are at the start of a sentence. Questions with there is and there are Place is or are in front of there to form a question. Examples: There is a book on the table. Is there a book on the table? There are books on the table. Are there books on the table?