there

Everyday

1. There is used to say something exists or is in a place: «There are 3 birds». tree →
2. There means in that place or to that place, not here. tree →
3. There can point at something: «There goes the bus!» tree →
4. «There, there» (casual) is said to calm someone who is upset. tree →
5. (casual) «There you go», «there ya go» means here it is, or well done. tree →
6. (casual, nonstandard) People say «there's» with many things: «there's 3 left». tree →
7. (formal) Exams say «there exist», «there remain», «there is given» and old words like «therein», «thereof», «thereby». tree →

In the lessons

in «there are» / «there were», telling an amount; «How many are there» asks for the count after all changes; phrases: «there is», «there are», «over there», «there and back», «there you go», «get there»; in casual talk «there's 3 left», «there ya go», «nearly there», «been there, done that»; in rough talk «get over there now», «there goes my bloody pocket money»; in the exam voice «there remain», «the number thereof», «there exists a number such that»

Examples

• There were 9 apples. tree →
• There are 3 birds on the roof. tree →
• How many children are there in all? tree →
• Is there any milk left? tree →
• Put your bag over there. tree →
• There goes the last bus! tree →
• There are 7 days in a week. tree →
• There's 3 left, who wants 'em? tree →
• There ya go, 2 each. tree →
• There goes my bloody pocket money, 10 dollars gone. tree →
• There remain 7 crates, each containing 12 bottles; state the number thereof. tree →
• There, there, don't cry, we'll find your teddy. tree →

Note

«there is» + one thing, «there are» + many things; «there's 3» is common in speech, but school English says «there are 3». Trap: «there», «their» and «they're» sound the same. Introduces an amount; carries no operation clue. «How many are there» asks for the count after all changes. «there remain» in an exam gives what is left.

In Jewish tradition

in «there are» / «there were», telling an amount; «How many are there» asks for the count after all changes; phrases: «there is», «there are», «over there», «there and back», «there you go», «get there»; in casual talk «there's 3 left», «there ya go», «nearly there», «been there, done that»; in rough talk «get over there now», «there goes my bloody pocket money»; in the exam voice «there remain», «the number thereof», «there exists a number such that»

Examples

• And they did eat there by the heap. (Torah GEN.31.46, JPS 1917) tree →
• And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Torah GEN.1.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And there was very great gladness. (Writings NEH.8.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is there injustice on my tongue? (Writings JOB.6.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is there a God beside Me? (Prophets ISA.44.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«there is» + one thing, «there are» + many things; «there's 3» is common in speech, but school English says «there are 3». Trap: «there», «their» and «they're» sound the same. Introduces an amount; carries no operation clue. «How many are there» asks for the count after all changes. «there remain» in an exam gives what is left.