Exercise 8. Change these sentences from the positive into the negative
Example: There are a lot of people in the street. – There aren't many people in the street.
There are some envelopes on my desk. – There aren't any envelopes on my desk. There are no envelopes on my desk.
There is a pencil on your chair. – There isn't a pencil on your chair.
1. There are some good shops in my neighbourhood.
2. There is a lot of furniture in the flat.
3. There is a cup on the kitchen table.
4. There are some flowers in the vase.
5. There is a lot of paper on the floor.
6. There is a mistake in this translation.
7. There are some postcards and photographs on the shelves.
8. There is a lot of useful information in this magazine.
  General questions
| Short answers | |||
| Is | there | a library | nearby? | Yes, there is (one)./ No, there isn’t. |
| Are | any shops | Yes, there are (some)./ No, there aren’t (any). |
Exercise 9. Make these sentences into general questions.
Example: There is a good film on TV in the evening. – Is there a good film on TV in the evening?
There are some letters in the mail box. – Are there any letters in the mail box?
There are a lot of beautiful buildings there. – Are there many beautiful buildings there?
1. There is always a lot of traffic in the city in the rush hour.
2. There are some books on the shelf.
3. There are a lot of people without jobs in India.
4. There's a TV serial every day.
5. There are some wonderful paintings in the National Gallery.
6. There's a new restaurant down the street.
7. There are no books or newspapers in his briefcase.
8. There are some cars in the parking area.
Exercise 10. Complete the sentence with there’s, there are, is there or are there.
Example: ___a beach down here. – There's a beach down here.
___ four girls and two boys in her family. – There are four girls and two boys in her family.
___ a telephone in the flat? – Is there a telephone in the flat?
1. ___ a train to Manchester?
2. ___ a new disco near the college.
3. ___ a good restaurant in this street?
4. ___ two hospitals in this town.
5. ___ many children in the pool?
6. ___ three families in that house.
7. ___ a television in the flat?
8. ___ a big grey cloud over there.
Alternative questions
Is there a newspaper or a magazine on the table? – A magazine.
Are there good films on TV tonight ortomorrow? – Tonight.
Exercise 11. Ask alternative questions with the following words. Give answers.
Example: A film/a concert/at the club tonight. – Is there a film or a concert at the club tonight? – There's a concert at the club tonight.
1. Tea / coffee / in the pot?
2. Any interesting sights / in the city centre / on the outskirts?
3. Photos / posters / on the walls in her room?
4. Chairs / armchairs / in the sitting room?
5. A football match / a hockey match / on TV this weekend?
6. Books / on the shelves / on the table?
7. Any news / for Jack / Jill?
Special questions
| What | is | there | in your bag? – Two books and a pencil. |
| How many girls | are | in your class? – Only three. | |
| How much furniture | is | in your flat? – Not much. | |
| What kind of (books) | are | in the library? – On different subjects. |
NOTE:
You can't ask where is/are there...?
There's always a lot of traffic in the centre.
Where is always much traffic? — In the centre.