Explanation and English Practice: there, it, they - EP2-04G

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Explanation

We use there is / there are to say that something exists:

Examples: there are 365 days in a year, there are 11 players in a football team, there is a famous mountain called “Kilimanjaro” in Africa etc.

 Often, we can use has / have got instead:

There are three books in my bag / I’ve got three books in my bag.

There is an opera house in our city / Our city has got an opera house.

 We use there is / are the first time we talk about one or more things, then we use it / they if we say more about it / them. Examples:

There is (There’s) a computer in my bedroom. It’s mine, but my brother uses it too. [meaning – the computer is mine; my brother uses the computer.]

There are four floors in our English college. They all have lots of classrooms.

[meaning: each floor has lots of classrooms.]

 The question forms are is there? And are there?

Is there a king or queen in your country? Yes, there is. She’s called queen Elizabeth the second.

Are there any cakes biscuits left? No, there aren’t, I’m really sorry.

 

NOTE: we can’t say something like: They are eight students in my class. You must begin with there: There are eight students in my class. Then you can use they to say something more about the students: They are all from different countries. Now try the following practice exercise.

 

 Practice

Put there, it or they in the gaps.

 

 

1. Excuse me. Is _________ a post office near here?

No, I’m afraid _________ isn’t. ________‘s in the town centre, about 2 miles from here.

 

2. __________ are some old clocks in that shop, but __________ need repairing.

 

3. Excuse me, that tall building on the corner, is ________ Baron’s Court?

No, _______ isn’t, but Baron’s Court is just behind ________.

 

4. Are __________ any cash machines in this street?

Yes, ________ are two, but _________‘re both at the other end – just keep walking and you’ll see them on the left.

 

5. This is my new car. ________‘s better than my last one, I think.

 

6. In my room _________‘s a large TV and ___________ are two armchairs. Oh, and ___________‘s my computer. ________‘s new – I only got it yesterday.

 

7. Are ________ any plants in you room?

Plants? Oh no, _______‘re expensive, and I’ve spent all my money on the computer!

 

8. Did you buy _________ from the specialist computer shop?

No, _________ are two types in that shop, but _______ are both very expensive. I got _____ from the supermarket.

Well. I hope _______ doesn’t go wrong. I don’t think the supermarket does computer repairs!

 

9. _________ are nine students in our class. _________ come from five different countries, but __________ all speak quite good English. ______ ‘s a good class.

 

10. Do you like my shoes? _________‘re the new style.

Yes, I can see. _______‘re really nice. How much did _______ cost?

 

11. _______ are three Italian restaurants in our town, but ______‘re not much good. _________‘s a French one too. ______‘s not cheap, but the food is great. ______‘s my favourite place to eat out in our town.

 

12.  Mummy, ________ ‘s something in my shoe and _______  hurts!

 Well dear, take ________ off and let’s have a look. Look, do you see? ________ ‘s a big stone in your shoe.