Lesson J - There is/There are
More Good News!
There are only 2 kinds of basic sentence in this language: (1) Subject + Verb + Object (John Loves Mary)
(2) There is/There are + Subject.
We know how to use (1) S+V+O when there is a definite subject (John is happy. He is happy. The dog is happy. My dog is happy. That dog is happy.)
Now we will find out how to use There is/There are + Subject. You use this in only a few cases.
A. When there is an indefinite subject (a/an dog).
B. When there is a number before the noun (five dogs)
C. When the indefinite subject indicates a general number or amount (nobody, anything).
Don't say: A pen is in my bag.
Say: There is a pen in my bag.
or... There are 5 pens in my bag.
(Even though the subject is after the verb, you make the verb work with the subject: There is a pen. There are 5 pens. Of course, you knew this.)
Now, try this exercise:
I need a doctor. Make a sentence that helps.
doctor door John there are is next a
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____.