There Is No vs. There Are No – Which is Correct?

The choice between “there is no” and “there are no” depends entirely on the noun that follows. Use “there is no” with singular countable nouns or uncountable nouns. Use “there are no” exclusively with plural countable nouns. Mastering this distinction ensures proper subject-verb agreement and clear communication.

There Is No or There Are No – Which is Correct?

Both “there is no” and “there are no” are grammatically correct phrases in American English, but they are used in different contexts based on the number and countability of the noun they refer to. The core difference lies in subject-verb agreement: “is” is singular, and “are” is plural. Therefore, you must match the verb to the noun that follows “no.”

“There is no” is used when the noun following “no” is singular or uncountable. For example, “There is no milk in the fridge” (uncountable) or “There is no cat on the mat” (singular countable).

“There are no” is used when the noun following “no” is plural. For example, “There are no cookies left” or “There are no students in the classroom.”

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

The simplest trick to remember the difference is the “Noun Check.” Always look at the noun immediately following “no” to determine if it is singular, plural, or uncountable.

• If the noun is singular (e.g., car, problem, solution) or uncountable (e.g., water, information, advice), use “there is no.”
• If the noun is plural (e.g., cars, problems, solutions), use “there are no.”

Think of it this way: if you could replace “no” with “not any,” would you say “there is not any [singular/uncountable noun]” or “there are not any [plural noun]”? The verb will always agree with the noun.

Phrase	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
There is no	Fixed Phrase	Indicates the absence of a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun.	There is no coffee left. (uncountable) There is no reason to worry. (singular)
There are no	Fixed Phrase	Indicates the absence of plural countable nouns.	There are no chairs available. (plural) There are no errors in the report. (plural)

How to Use There Is No

“There is no” is used to express the absence of something. It is always followed by either a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun. This construction emphasizes that a specific item or quantity of a substance is not present. It’s a common and straightforward way to convey negation.

Example 1: “There is no sugar in my tea, so it tastes quite bland.”

Example 2: “Despite extensive searching, there is no evidence to support that claim.”

Example 3: “The forecast indicates there is no chance of rain today, which is great for our picnic.”

Etymology of the phrase There Is No

The phrase “there is no” combines the existential “there is” (indicating existence or presence) with the negative determiner “no.” The construction “there is” evolved from Old English “þær is” and has been used for centuries to introduce the existence of something. Adding “no” directly negates that existence, making it a simple and direct way to state absence.

How to Use There Are No

“There are no” is used to express the absence of multiple items or plural entities. It is always followed by a plural countable noun. This phrase is crucial for maintaining subject-verb agreement when referring to more than one missing item.

Example 1: “When I opened the box, I realized there are no instructions included.”

Example 2: “The teacher noted that there are no late submissions for this assignment.”

Example 3: “After the storm, there are no leaves left on the trees in our garden.”

Etymology of the phrase There Are No

Similar to “there is no,” the phrase “there are no” utilizes the existential “there are” (indicating the existence of multiple items) combined with the negative determiner “no.” “There are” is the plural form of “there is,” also stemming from Old English. The addition of “no” directly negates the existence of the plural noun, creating a clear statement of their absence.

Related Concepts

Understanding a few broader grammatical concepts will solidify your grasp of when to use “there is no” versus “there are no.”

• Subject-Verb Agreement: This is the fundamental rule governing the use of “is” and “are.” The verb must always agree in number with its subject. In “there is/are no” constructions, the true subject is the noun that follows “no.” If that noun is singular or uncountable, use “is”; if it is plural, use “are.”
• Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns: Nouns are either countable (can be counted and have plural forms, e.g., books, apples) or uncountable (cannot be counted individually and typically don’t have plural forms, e.g., water, information, happiness). This distinction is critical because uncountable nouns always take a singular verb, even when referring to a large quantity.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “In the silence of the night, there is no sound save for the distant hum of the city.” (Referring to an uncountable noun, “sound”)
• “He looked at the empty shelves and sighed, ‘There are no books left to read in this library.'” (Referring to plural countable noun, “books”)
• “The detective concluded, ‘After reviewing all the evidence, there is no doubt about the suspect’s guilt.'” (Referring to an uncountable noun, “doubt”)
• “Many felt that there are no easy answers to the complex social issues facing the nation.” (Referring to plural countable noun, “answers”)
• “She whispered, ‘There is no turning back now; we must proceed with the plan.'” (Referring to a gerund phrase acting as an uncountable concept)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. Unfortunately, _______ milk left for your cereal this morning.
2. The manager announced that _______ any changes to the schedule.
3. In this desert, _______ water for miles around.
4. After the meeting, I realized _______ valid objections to the proposal.
5. _______ a single reason why you should doubt yourself.

Answer Key

1. there is no
2. there are no
3. there is no
4. there are no
5. there is no

There Is No Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
None exists	Expresses that zero quantity or instance of something is present.
Not any	Indicates a complete absence; often used with singular or uncountable nouns.
No presence of	A more formal way to state the absence of something.

There Are No Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
None exist	States that zero items of a plural category are present.
Not any	Indicates a complete absence; often used with plural nouns.
Absent	A general term for something not being present, adaptable to plural contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “there is no” be used with plural nouns?
No, “there is no” cannot be used with plural nouns. It must be followed by a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun. For plural nouns, you must use “there are no.”

Question 2: What about “there’s no” and “there’re no”?
“There’s no” is a common contraction of “there is no” and is perfectly acceptable in informal speech and writing. However, “there’re no” (contraction of “there are no”) is much less common and can sound awkward, so it’s generally avoided in favor of the full “there are no.”

Question 3: Does the phrase “there is no” imply a specific quantity?
Yes, “there is no” (and “there are no”) implies a quantity of zero. It’s a definitive statement of complete absence, whether of a single item, a collective amount (for uncountable nouns), or multiple items (for plural nouns).

Conclusion

Distinguishing between “there is no” and “there are no” is a fundamental aspect of correct English grammar, rooted deeply in subject-verb agreement. The key lies in identifying whether the noun that follows “no” is singular, plural, or uncountable. “There is no” serves singular and uncountable nouns, while “there are no” is reserved for plural nouns. Mastering this ensures your sentences are grammatically sound and your meaning is unmistakably clear.

Pro Tip: Always proofread your work for subject-verb agreement. Errors in this area, even subtle ones like misusing “is no” or “are no,” can detract from your professional credibility in both academic and business contexts.