Ch 2 · Lesson 9English · Chapter 2 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer

There is or it is? Never it has

There is brings in something new; it is tells you more about it. And English never uses have for this: there is a bank here, not it has a bank.

The short version

Say there is, not it has, for what exists

Not It has a bank near here.

Why?

Many languages use a word like have to say that something exists in a place. English uses there is and there are. Keep have for owning things.

There is first, then it is

café . .

The first sentence says the café exists; the second describes it.

Why?

There is brings in something new. It is tells you more about that thing. A good pair of sentences often uses both, in that order.

There is or it is?

There is says a thing exists: it is new in the talk. It is tells you more about a thing we already know.

There is a café near here. It is very good. (first the café, then what it is like)
There is a letter for you. It is from Tom. (first the letter, then who sent it)

First there is (new thing), then it is (more about that thing).

Do not use have for this

Many languages use a word like have for there is. English does not. Keep have for owning: I have a car. (The car is mine.) She has two cats. (The cats are hers.)

Wrong	Right
It has a bank here.	There is a bank here.
Have two cats here.	There are two cats here.
Has any milk?	Is there any milk?

Common mistakes

Wrong	Right	Why
There is two banks.	There are two banks.	: .
There are some milk.	There is some milk.	plural.
It has a shop here.	There is a shop here.	.
Is a bank near here?	Is there a bank near here?	.
Yes, there's.	Yes, there is.	.

Going further: The chart and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.

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Lesson 9 of 37 in this chapter

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