The there is pattern works in other tenses: there was and there were for the past, there has been and there have been for the present perfect, and there will be for the future.
A there was / there were (past)
there is / there are is the present. there was / there were is the past.
It is 10.20 now. There is a bus every half an hour. There was a bus at ten o'clock, and it left without you.
| there is / are (present) | there was / were (past) |
|---|---|
| There's a quiz at the pub tonight. | There was a quiz at the pub last night. |
| We're in a huge campsite. There are 400 tents. | We stayed in a huge campsite. There were 400 tents. |
| Are there any parcels for me today? | Were there any parcels for me yesterday? |
| I'm thirsty but there isn't anything to drink. | I was thirsty but there wasn't anything to drink. |
- There was a quiz at the pub last night.
- We stayed in a huge campsite. There were 400 tents.
- Were there any parcels for me yesterday?
- When I got back from work, I was starving but there wasn't anything in the fridge.
B there has been / there have been (present perfect)
Use there has been (there's been) for one thing and there have been for more than one. The thing happened in the past, and we are talking about it from now.
Compare there was. With a finished time such as last night or on Monday, use the past simple.
There was a break-in on our street last night. (not There has been a break-in last night.)
- Look at all that glass! There's been an accident.
- This corner is dangerous. There have been a lot of accidents here.
- There was a break-in on our street last night.
C there will be (future)
Use there will be for the future. The negative is there will not be, almost always said as there won't be.
- Do you think there'll be many people at the bonfire on Saturday?
- Our head teacher is retiring, so there'll be a new one in September.
- I'll iron my shirt tonight. There won't be time in the morning.
Exercises
38.1 Last week this living room was full of things. Now it is completely empty, because the tenants have moved out. Write what was there last week, with There was ... or There were ... and the words in the list.
a bookcasea coffee tablea lampa mirrora rugsome cushionssome plantstwo posters
Last week a mirror hung on the wall above the fireplace.
There was a mirror on the wall above the fireplace.
There was a mirror on the wall above the fireplace.
Last week a rug lay on the floor.
on the floor.
There was a rug on the floor.
Last week some plants stood by the window.
by the window.
There were some plants by the window.
Last week a bookcase stood against the back wall.
against the back wall.
There was a bookcase against the back wall.
Last week some cushions sat on the window seat.
on the window seat.
There were some cushions on the window seat.
Last week a lamp stood on the coffee table.
on the coffee table.
There was a lamp on the coffee table.
Last week two posters hung on the wall near the door.
on the wall near the door.
There were two posters on the wall near the door.
Last week a coffee table stood in the middle of the room.
in the middle of the room.
There was a coffee table in the middle of the room.
38.2 Put in there was / there wasn't / was there / there were / there weren't / were there.
I was thirsty but there wasn't anything to drink.
I was thirsty but there wasn't anything to drink.
Were there any phone calls for me this morning?
Were there any phone calls for me this morning?
a good programme about whales on the radio last night. Did you hear it?
There was a good programme about whales on the radio last night. Did you hear it?
"We stayed in a lovely cottage in Wales." "Did you? a garden?"
"We stayed in a lovely cottage in Wales." "Did you? Was there a garden?"
"Did you get any bananas?" "No, any in the shop."
"Did you get any bananas?" "No, there weren't any in the shop."
The fridge was empty. any food in it at all.
The fridge was empty. There wasn't any food in it at all.
" many people at the bus stop?" "No, just two."
"Were there many people at the bus stop?" "No, just two."
We didn't go round the castle. enough time.
We didn't go round the castle. There wasn't enough time.
Sorry I'm late. an accident on the motorway.
Sorry I'm late. There was an accident on the motorway.
Thirty years ago many cafés in this town. Now there are dozens.
Thirty years ago there weren't many cafés in this town. Now there are dozens.
38.3 Put in there + is / are / was / were / has been / have been / will be.
There was a brilliant concert in the park last Saturday.
There was a brilliant concert in the park last Saturday.
thirty-one days in March.
There are thirty-one days in March.
a quiz at the pub last Thursday but I didn't go.
There was a quiz at the pub last Thursday but I didn't go.
"Where can I get a coffee?" " a café round the corner."
"Where can I get a coffee?" "There's a café round the corner."
"Why are those fire engines outside the library?" " a fire."
"Why are those fire engines outside the library?" "There's been a fire."
When we got to the post office, a long queue.
When we got to the post office, there was a long queue.
When you get to the hotel tomorrow, somebody at reception to give you a key.
When you get to the hotel tomorrow, there'll be somebody at reception to give you a key.
Fifteen years ago 300 people in the village. Now nearly a thousand.
Fifteen years ago there were 300 people in the village. Now there are nearly a thousand.
Last month I went back to my old school. It's very different now. a lot of changes.
Last month I went back to my old school. It's very different now. There have been a lot of changes.
Don't worry about the weather on Sunday. I don't think any rain.
Don't worry about the weather on Sunday. I don't think there'll be any rain.