Learn A1 English: How to Say 'No Hay' with There Isn't / There Aren't — A1 English grammar lesson by Langcom

Learn A1 English: How to Say ‘No Hay’ with There Isn’t / There Aren’t

Raúl Maguiña

Fundador de Langcom | Examinador de Cambridge y del SIELE

septiembre 9, 2026

A1✏️ Gramática⏱️ 3 minutos de lectura📅 Updated septiembre 2026
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To say that something does not exist in English, we use there isn’t for singular nouns and uncountable nouns, and there aren’t for plural nouns. These forms are the negative versions of there is y there are. For example, if you want to say ‘no hay un coche’, you say There isn’t a car. If you want to say ‘no hay libros’, you say There aren’t any books. Remember to use any with plural and uncountable nouns in negative sentences. This structure helps you talk about the absence of things in a place or situation. It’s a fundamental part of describing your surroundings.

What is the negative form of ‘there is’?

When you want to say that one thing does not exist, you use there isn’t.

Isn’t es la forma abreviada de is not. We use it for singular countable nouns and for uncountable nouns.

  • For singular nouns: There isn’t + a/an + singular noun.
  • For uncountable nouns: There isn’t + any + uncountable noun.

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What is the negative form of 'there are'?

When you want to say that many things do not exist, you use there aren't.

Aren't es la forma abreviada de are not. We use it for plural countable nouns.

  • For plural nouns: There aren't + any + plural noun.

Why do we use 'any' with negative sentences?

In negative sentences with there isn't y there aren't, we often use the word any.

Any means 'cero' or 'ninguno/a' in this context. It makes the negative meaning stronger, especially with plural and uncountable nouns.

  • Utilizamos any with plural countable nouns: There aren't any chairs.
  • Utilizamos any con sustantivos incontables: There isn't any water.
  • For singular countable nouns, we usually use a/an: There isn't a pen.
Summary of Negative Forms: There isn't / There aren't
Type of Noun Forma negativa
Singular Countable There isn't a/an...
Uncountable There isn't any...
Plural Countable There aren't any...

Ejemplos

  • There isn't a dog in the garden.
  • There isn't any milk in the fridge.
  • There aren't any students in the classroom.
  • There isn't a bus stop near my house.
  • There aren't any shops open on Sunday.

Práctica

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Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes

Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes

Spanish speakers sometimes make mistakes because they translate directly from 'no hay'.

  • Incorrecto: No there is a car.
    Correcto: There isn't a car. (Remember, 'there' comes first.)
  • Incorrecto: There aren't books.
    Correcto: There aren't any books. (Always use any with plural nouns in negative sentences.)
  • Incorrecto: There isn't money.
    Correcto: There isn't any money. (Use any with uncountable nouns in negative sentences.)

Preguntas más frecuentes

When do I use 'there isn't'?

Se utiliza there isn't for singular countable nouns (e.g., There isn't a chair.) and for uncountable nouns (e.g., There isn't any sugar.).

When do I use 'there aren't'?

Se utiliza there aren't for plural countable nouns (e.g., There aren't any apples.).

Is 'any' always necessary with 'there isn't' and 'there aren't'?

For plural nouns and uncountable nouns in negative sentences, any is almost always used and sounds natural (e.g., There aren't any problems., There isn't any coffee.). For singular nouns, you use a/an (p. ej., There isn't a doctor.).

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Sobre el autor: Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña es el director de la Asociación Educativa Langcom, un centro autorizado de preparación para el examen Cambridge English en tu país. Con más de una década de experiencia en la enseñanza de idiomas y la certificación internacional, ha ayudado a miles de estudiantes, profesores e instituciones educativas de 25 países a conseguir las certificaciones de inglés de Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL y Michigan.

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