Describing surroundings with There is & There are

You will learn how to describe surroundings using There is and There are.

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Describing surroundings with There is & There are

Washington, D. C.

Imagen: Washington, D. F. Creative Commons.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_D.C._Montage_Proposal_6.jpg

Instructions: Read the description about Washington, D. C. Look at the words in bold to express existence.

Washington, D. C., formally the District of Columbia, is the capital of the United States. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790, approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country’s East Coast. The U.S. Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress and the District is therefore not a part of any state. Named in honor of President Greorge Wahingston, the City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital.

There are many historic sites and museums in Washington, D.C.: the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the United States Capitol are the most relevant.

There are also important institutions: The National Archives, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art, and the Georgetown University among many others.

Washington, D. C.Retrieved and adapted October, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.

Quiz

Getting started: Georgetown

Instructions: Read the text to do the activities suggested.

Georgetown, a historic neighborhood in Washington, D. C., founded in 1751, is located in the northwest of Washington, D. C. Visitors to Georgetown can find popular shops, restaurants and bars on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, and the Washington Harbour complex overlooking the beautiful Potomac River.

Visitors can take walking tours of this historic district and there are also boat tours. An important landmark is the Old Stone House built in 1765, which is the oldest intact house. Another attraction is Georgetown University. Also, there are other important places to visit like the National park of Chesapeake Ohio Canal, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Dumbarton Oaks mansion, and the embassies of Sweden and France.

GeorgetownRetrieved and adapted October, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown_(Washington,_D.C.)

In Georgetown

Instructions: Choose True or False for the following statements.

In Georgetown…

1. There are shops and restaurants on Chesapeake Ohio Canal.

2. There is a very old stone house built in 1765.

3. There is a famous university called Georgetown University.

4. There is a harbor on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

5. There are attractions like Chesapeake Ohio Canal and the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Let’s find out how to express existence.

Instructions: Look at the following information about There is and There are:

There is and There are are used to express existence.

There is for singular. There are for plural.
A) Look at the word order in the positive form:
There is There is a magazine on the table.
There is a famous university in Georgetown.
There is a huge library in Georgetown.
There are There are books in the library.
There are a lot of students at the university.
There are many historical places here.
B) Now, look at the word order in the negative form:
There isn’t There isn’t a museum there.
There isn’t a stadium in my campus.
There isn’t any bookstore around here.
There aren´t There aren’t malls near the school.
There aren’t any parks in this town.
There aren’t any night clubs here.
C) And now, look at the word order in the interrogative form:
Is there…? Is there a museum here? Yes, there is. /
No, there isn´t.
Is there a swimming pool? Yes, there is. /
No, there isn’t.
Are there…? Are there a lot of students? Yes, there are. /
No, there aren’t.
Are there any night clubs? Yes, there are. /
No, there aren’t.

Quiz

Describing the university

Instructions: Choose the correct option in the following sentences:

  1. There is / There are two libraries.
  2. There is / There are a swimming pool.
  3. There is / There are two cafeterias.
  4. There is / There are a gym.
  5. There is / There are a shop.
  6. There is / There are a restaurant.
  7. There is / There are a lot of classrooms.
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Quiz

Questions or Negatives?

Instructions: Write the correct form of There is or There are according to the context. (Interrogative or Negative)

  1. any science laboratories.
  2. two sports centers here?
  3. a medical center?
  4. a soccer field.
  5. many foreign students?
  6. a movie theatre?
  7. school busses in campus.
    8. doneCheck

Evaluation

Let’s express existence

Instructions: Choose the right options in the following text.

  1. In California, there is / there are three different habitats: mountains, flatlands, and coast.
  2. There is / There are pretty small towns in the Lone Star state.
  3. In Tennessee, there isn’t / there aren’t hurricanes.
  4. Is there / Are there small college towns in Ohio?
  5. In New Jersey, there isn’t / there aren’t a lot of traffic congestion.
  6. There isn’t / There aren’t any swimming pools in the campus.
  7. Is there / Are there an ice rink?
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