These expressions are used to know how many people or objects are in one
place. Is important to note the plural and singular. Article "the" is not used. Look at some examples:
There is
Noun Countable: - There is an apple in the
basket. / - There is a book on the table
Noun Uncountable: - There is some tea in the
pot. / - There isn't any bread
singular
what is this?
There are
- There are some dogs in the yard /
There are sixteen students in the class