there is

there is
there is, there are
This impersonal formula is used to indicate the existence of something or someone in a way that avoids the need to identify them more closely grammatically. There is (or was) is used when the following noun is singular, and there are (or were) when it is plural: There is a spider in the bath / There were three biscuits a moment ago. When the number of the following noun is more complex, choice is normally determined by what follows immediately; for example, There is a pen and three sheets of paper on the desk sounds more natural than There are a pen and three sheets of paper on the desk. Amounts regarded as a unit are also treated as singular: There is £5000 in my account (equivalent to ‘the sum of £5000’). Use of there is, or more often there's, as an invariable formula regardless of number is often found but is only acceptable informally: There's 35 branches throughout the country.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • There — There, adv. [OE. ther, AS. [eth][=ae]r; akin to D. daar, G. da, OHG. d[=a]r, Sw. & Dan. der, Icel. & Goth. [thorn]ar, Skr. tarhi then, and E. that. [root]184. See {That}, pron.] 1. In or at that place. [They] there left me and my man, both bound… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • There — Infobox VG title = There.com developer = Makena Technologies publisher = Makena Technologies distributor = Makena Technologies designer = engine = version = released = 2003 genre = Multiplayer modes = Multiplayer ratings = PG13 World platforms =… …   Wikipedia

  • there — I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English thǣr; akin to Old High German dār there, Old English thæt that Date: before 12th century 1. in or at that place < stand over there > often used interjectionally 2. to or into that place ;… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • there — See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, THEN AND THERE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • there — See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, THEN AND THERE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • There — or[here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, Here is what you wanted. * /The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and said, There you are, sir! / * /The clerk wrapped up the package and handed it to the customer saying, Here you are, ma am!… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • There — or[here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, Here is what you wanted. * /The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and said, There you are, sir! / * /The clerk wrapped up the package and handed it to the customer saying, Here you are, ma am!… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • there'd — Date: 1691 there had ; there would …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • there'll — Date: 1616 there will ; there shall …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • there's — Date: 1580 there is ; there has …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • there've — Date: 1846 there have …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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