If you have ever paused mid sentence wondering whether to write there is no or there are no, you are dealing with one of English’s most common subject verb agreement questions. This guide breaks down exactly when to use each phrase, why the confusion happens, and how to avoid common mistakes in your writing.
What Is the Difference
The choice between there is no and there are no depends entirely on whether the noun that follows is singular or plural. There is no pairs with singular or uncountable nouns, while there are no pairs with plural nouns.
Quick Definition
| Phrase | Used With |
|---|---|
| There is no | Singular or uncountable nouns |
| There are no | Plural nouns |
Example
Singular: “There is no reason to worry”
Plural: “There are no reasons to worry”
Understanding Subject Verb Agreement
The core grammar rule behind this choice is subject verb agreement, meaning the verb must match the number of the noun that follows it, even though there is not the actual subject of the sentence.
| Sentence Structure | Rule |
|---|---|
| There is no + singular noun | Verb agrees with singular noun |
| There are no + plural noun | Verb agrees with plural noun |
Even though there sits at the beginning of the sentence, the noun following no determines whether is or are should be used.
When to Use There Is No
There is no should be used when the following noun is singular or uncountable, meaning it cannot be counted individually as separate units.
With Singular Nouns
- “There is no book on the table”
- “There is no chair in the room”
- “There is no reason to panic”
With Uncountable Nouns
- “There is no water left in the bottle”
- “There is no time to waste”
- “There is no information available yet”
Uncountable nouns, such as water, time, and information, are always treated as singular, even though they refer to substances or concepts that cannot be broken into individual countable units.
When to Use There Are No
There are no should be used when the following noun is plural, referring to more than one countable item.
With Plural Nouns
- “There are no books on the table”
- “There are no chairs in the room”
- “There are no reasons to panic”
- “There are no tickets left”
Because these nouns can be counted individually, such as one book, two books, three books, the plural form are is required.
Singular Versus Plural Comparison
Looking at these side by side makes the pattern clear.
| Singular Sentence | Plural Sentence |
|---|---|
| There is no apple in the basket | There are no apples in the basket |
| There is no student in the classroom | There are no students in the classroom |
| There is no excuse for that | There are no excuses for that |
| There is no answer yet | There are no answers yet |
Notice how the noun itself changes from singular to plural, and the verb shifts accordingly to match.
Uncountable Nouns Always Take Is
One of the most common mistakes happens with uncountable nouns, which some writers mistakenly treat as plural.
| Uncountable Noun | Correct Usage |
|---|---|
| Water | There is no water |
| Time | There is no time |
| Money | There is no money |
| Information | There is no information |
| Advice | There is no advice |
Even though these nouns describe things that can exist in large quantities, they are grammatically treated as singular and always pair with is, never are.
Incorrect: “There are no water left” Correct: “There is no water left”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake One: Using Are With Uncountable Nouns
Incorrect: “There are no information about this topic” Correct: “There is no information about this topic”
Mistake Two: Using Is With Plural Nouns
Incorrect: “There is no cars in the parking lot” Correct: “There are no cars in the parking lot”
Mistake Three: Ignoring the Noun That Follows
Some writers focus only on the word there rather than checking whether the noun that follows is singular or plural, leading to easily avoidable agreement errors.
Mistake Four: Overgeneralizing With Collective Nouns
Collective nouns, such as team or group, are usually treated as singular in American English, even though they refer to multiple people.
Example: “There is no team available for this project” remains grammatically correct in most standard American English contexts.
Special Cases to Watch For
Nouns That Look Plural but Are Treated as Singular
Some words end in s but are grammatically singular, requiring is rather than are.
| Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| News | “There is no news today” |
| Mathematics | “There is no mathematics involved” |
| Politics | “There is no politics discussed here” |
Nouns That Look Singular but Require Are
Some nouns referring to paired items are always treated as plural.
| Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| Scissors | “There are no scissors on the desk” |
| Glasses | “There are no glasses in the drawer” |
| Pants | “There are no pants in the closet” |
Formal Versus Casual Usage
Both there is no and there are no are used in formal and casual writing alike, as long as subject verb agreement is followed correctly.
| Setting | Example |
|---|---|
| Formal writing | “There is no evidence supporting this claim” |
| Casual conversation | “There are no snacks left in the kitchen” |
| Academic writing | “There is no significant correlation between the variables” |
| Everyday texting | “There are no good movies playing this weekend” |
Why This Distinction Matters
Getting there is no and there are no correct matters most in professional, academic, and formal writing, where subject verb agreement errors can distract from otherwise clear and credible writing. Even in casual conversation, using the correct form helps ensure your meaning comes across clearly and naturally.
Quick Reference Table
| Noun Type | Correct Phrase | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular noun | There is no | “There is no chair” |
| Uncountable noun | There is no | “There is no time” |
| Plural noun | There are no | “There are no chairs” |
| Collective noun (singular treatment) | There is no | “There is no team” |
| Paired item noun | There are no | “There are no scissors” |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether to use there is no or there are no? Check whether the noun following the phrase is singular, uncountable, or plural. Singular and uncountable nouns take there is no, while plural nouns take there are no.
Is there is no ever correct with plural nouns? No, plural countable nouns always require there are no to maintain proper subject verb agreement.
Why does there is no work with uncountable nouns like water or time? Uncountable nouns are grammatically treated as singular, regardless of quantity, which is why they always pair with is rather than are.
Are there is no and there are no used in both American and British English? Yes, this subject verb agreement rule applies consistently across both American and British English.
Can collective nouns like team use there are no? In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular, so there is no team is generally correct, though British English sometimes treats collective nouns as plural depending on context.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between there is no and there are no comes down to a simple but important grammar rule: check whether the noun that follows is singular, uncountable, or plural. Singular and uncountable nouns pair with there is no, while plural nouns require there are no. Keeping this distinction in mind will help you write with more accuracy and confidence, whether you are crafting a formal report, an email, or a casual text message.
