I. there 1 S1 W1 /ðeə, ðə $ ðer, ðər/ BrE AmE pronoun
there is/exists/remains etc used to say that something exists or happens:
Is there any milk left?
There are a few things we need to discuss.
There must be easier ways of doing this.
There seems to be a lack of communication.
There remain several questions still to be answered.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion.
They were all laughing when there came a knock at the door.
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GRAMMAR
Use there is/are to say that something exists or happens. There cannot be left out:
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There is one exception (NOT Is one exception).
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There was an argument.
When the noun is plural, use there are/were , even when using 'a lot of' before it:
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There are many interesting places to visit.
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There are a lot of problems (NOT There is a lot of problems) with this theory.
► Do not confuse there with the possessive determiner their :
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They love their jobs.
II. there 2 S1 W1 /ðeə $ ðer/ BrE AmE adverb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: thær ]
1 . in or to a particular place that is not where you are ⇨ here :
We could go back to my cottage and have lunch there.
Scotland? I’ve always wanted to go there.
Hold it right there and don’t move.
Can you pass me that wine glass there?
Look, there’s that bookshop I was telling you about.
Who’s that man over there?
It’s too far to drive there and back in one day.
Are we going to get there (=arrive) before the banks close?
out/in/under etc there
I know there’s a mouse under there somewhere.
We flew to Miami and from there to La Paz.
► Do not say ‘to there’: We went there (NOT went to there) by car.
2 . if something is there, it exists:
The chance was there, but I didn’t take it.
The countryside is there for everyone to enjoy.
Three months after the operation, the pain was still there.
3 . at or to a particular point in time, in a process, or in a story:
Let’s stop there and I’ll tell you the rest of the story tomorrow.
She got a divorce, but her troubles didn’t end there.
There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re getting there (=coming to the end of the process) slowly.
4 . there and then ( also then and there ) immediately:
I thought I’d have to wait, but they offered me the job there and then.
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SPOKEN PHRASES
5 . used to refer to something that someone has said when you are answering them:
That’s true. I agree with you there.
‘Why did the system fail?’ ‘Well, there you’ve got me – I really don’t know.’
6 . used when greeting someone or calling to them:
Hi there, you must be Laura.
Hey, you there! Watch out!
7 . there it is/there they are etc used when you have found something or someone that you are looking for:
Have you seen my keys anywhere? Ah, there they are.
There you are. I’ve been looking for you.
8 . used when you want to speak to someone on the telephone and someone else answers:
Hello, Georgie, is your mother there?
9 . be there (for somebody) to be always ready to help someone when they need help:
That’s what I loved about my father – he was always there for me.
10 . there I was/there they were etc used to describe what situation someone was in at a particular point in the story you are telling:
So there I was, stranded in London with no money.
11 . be not all there informal someone who is not all there seems stupid or slightly crazy
12 . there’s a good boy/clever dog etc used to praise a child or animal
13 . there it is/there you are/there you go used to say that nothing can be done to change an unsatisfactory situation:
It’s all very sad, but there it is. There’s absolutely nothing any of us can do about it.
14 . there you go/she goes etc (again) used when someone does something annoying that they often do:
There you go, blaming everything on me, as usual.
There she goes again, complaining about the weather.
15 . there you are/there you go
a) used when giving something to someone or when you have done something for someone:
There you are. I’ll just wrap it up for you.
b) used when you think you have proved to someone that what you are telling them is right:
There you are, then. There’s nothing to worry about.
16 . there’s something for you
a) used to say that an action or situation is a good example of a particular quality:
There’s intelligence for you! She’s solved the problem already.
b) used when you are annoyed or disappointed to say that someone’s behaviour is the opposite of the quality you are naming:
Well, there’s gratitude for you. She didn’t even say thank you.
17 . there goes something/somebody
a) used when you see someone or something going past or away from you:
There goes a very worried man.
b) used to say that you can hear something such as a bell ringing:
There goes the phone. I’ll answer it.
c) used when you are losing something, for example an opportunity or money, as a result of something that has just happened:
There go our chances of winning the championship.
There goes my career.
III. there 3 /ðeə $ ðer/ BrE AmE interjection
1 . spoken used to express satisfaction that you have been proved right or that you have done what you intended to do:
There! I’ve done it! I’ve resigned.
There, what did I tell you? I knew it wouldn’t work.
2 . there, there! spoken used to comfort someone who is crying, especially a child:
There, there, don’t get so upset!
3 . so there! spoken used to show someone that you do not care what they think and you are not going to change your mind – used by children:
I’m going to Elly’s party, and you can’t stop me, so there!