Are there any restaurants near here?

Everyday English Conversation

Listen to the conversation between a stranger and a woman at the information center. The stranger is asking for information about where to eat and stay in the city. Pay attention to the phrases There is and There are in the conversation.

A	Can I help you?
B	Yes. Are there any restaurants in the station?
A	Yes, there are … but … what ‘s the time?
B	Half past eleven.
A	Ah, they’re closed now, but there’s a snack bar over there. That’s open.
B	And is there a cash machine here?
A	Yes, over there.
B	Thanks. And hotels?
A	There are two hotels near here. The Charlotte Street Hotel … that’s about two hundred and fifty pounds a night.
B	Two hundred and fifty pounds? That’s expensive.
A	And there’s the Ridgemount, that’s about eighty pounds.
B	Where’s that?
A	It’s here on the map.
B	OK … thank you for your help.

 

Language Note:

How to use There is and There are

We use “there is” for singular nouns, “there are” for plural nouns and “there is” for uncountable nouns.

Affirmative
There is + Singular noun	There is an apple on the table.
There are + Plural noun	There are two apples on the desk.
There is + uncountable noun	There is some water on the table.

 

We add not after the verb is/are to form the negative sentence.

Negative
There isn’t + Singular noun	There isn’t an apple on the table.
There aren’t + Plural noun	There aren’t two apples on the desk.
There isn’t + uncountable noun	There isn’t some water on the table.

 

The verb is/are is place in front of there to form the question.

Question
Is there + Singular noun	Is there an apple on the table.
Are there + Plural noun	Are there two apples on the desk.
Is there + uncountable noun	Is there some water on the table.

 

Learn more:

• How much and How many
• Did you have a good holiday?
• That sounds interesting

 

Exercise

Choose the correct answer

[rapid_quiz question=”______ many French girls in the English class.” answer=”There are” options=”There is|There are|Is there” notes=”Correct answer: There are”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ a calendar on the wall in the kitchen.” answer=”There is” options=”There are|There are not|There is” notes=”Correct answer: “]

[rapid_quiz question=”How many days _____ in January?” answer=”are there” options=”is there|are there|There are” notes=”Correct answer: are there”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ any good movies on TV tonight.” answer=”There aren’t” options=”There aren’t|There isn’t|There are” notes=”Correct answer: There aren’t”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ a hotel near the train station?” answer=”Is there” options=”There is|Is there|Are there” notes=”Correct answer: Is there”]

[rapid_quiz question=”What _____ to see in Melbourne?” answer=”is there” options=”are there|aren’t there|is there” notes=”Correct answer: is there”]

[rapid_quiz question=”How many cinemas _____ in the mall?” answer=”are there” options=”are there|is there|there are” notes=”Correct answer: are there”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ another train to Chicago in two hours.” answer=”There is” options=”There was|There are|There is” notes=”Correct answer: There is”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ much space in this room for more students.” answer=”There isn’t” options=”There aren’t|There isn’t|There is” notes=”Correct answer: There isn’t”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ any money in my wallet.” answer=”There isn’t” options=”There aren’t|There is|There isn’t” notes=”Correct answer: There isn’t”]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ a lot of time to see your friends next week.” answer=”There is” options=”There are|There is|Is there” notes=””]

[rapid_quiz question=”_____ any bills for me today?” answer=”Are there” options=”Are there|Is there|There are” notes=””]