Use "there is" with a singular nouns. (There is a pencil).
Use "there are" with a plural nouns. (There are pencils).

		negative	contraction
singular noun	there is	there is not	there isn't
plural noun	there are	there are not	there aren't

There is/are negative

There ?? (noun or pronoun) (prepositional phrase)
There isn't a rug on the floor.
There isn't a man at the door.
There are not two girls on the floor.
There aren't many students at the school.
There is not only one cat in Canada.
There isn't a letter in the box.

TEST YOURSELF:

Select the correct negative verb for the following:

1.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't five pens on the desk.
2.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't many people in the hall.
3.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't a chair in the closet.
4.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't three telephones at the airport.
5.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't lots of computers in Room 202.
6.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't a window in her room.
7.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't an apple in the basket.
8.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't seven days in a week.
9.   There neg. verb aren''t isn't four schools in our town.
10. There neg. verb aren''t isn't twelve months in a year.

• Show / Hide the Answers
  
  1.   aren't      -      6.   isn't
  2.   aren't       -      7.   isn't
  3.   isn't        -      8.   aren't
  4.   aren't      -      9.   aren't
  5.   aren't      -     10.   aren't