Ever typed a sentence, paused, and wondered whether it should be “there is no” or “there are no”? You’re not the only one. This tiny grammar choice trips up native speakers, ESL learners, and even professional writers — because English doesn’t always make it obvious which noun “counts” as singular or plural.
The good news: once you learn one simple test, you’ll never second-guess this rule again. In this guide, you’ll learn the exact grammar logic, see real examples, avoid the most common mistakes, and pick up a one-second trick that makes the right answer automatic.
What “There Is No” and “There Are No” Actually Mean
Both phrases express absence — they tell us something doesn’t exist, isn’t available, or can’t be found. The difference isn’t about meaning; it’s about grammatical agreement.
- There is no → used with singular nouns and uncountable nouns
- There are no → used with plural countable nouns
Here, “there” acts as a placeholder subject (grammarians call it a “dummy subject”). The real subject is the noun that comes after “no,” and that noun decides whether you use “is” or “are.”
Using “There Is No” Correctly
“There is no” pairs with anything that grammatically behaves as singular — even if it doesn’t sound singular in everyday speech.
There are no or there is no grammatically
Grammatically, the rule is simple: match the verb to the noun that follows, not to how the sentence “feels.” If the noun is one item or a mass/concept, use is. If the noun is more than one item, use are.
With Singular Countable Nouns
When you’re talking about exactly one thing, “there is no” is correct.
- There is no chair in the room.
- There is no solution to this problem.
- There is no reason to worry.
Quick Tip
Ask yourself: “Can I put a or an in front of this noun?” If yes, use there is no.
With Uncountable (Mass) Nouns
Uncountable nouns — things you can’t count individually, like water, money, advice, furniture, information — always take “is,” even though they refer to a “bulk” amount.
- There is no water left in the bottle.
- There is no information about the delay.
- There is no furniture in the new apartment.
With Infinitives and Gerunds
When “there is no” is followed by a verb form (an infinitive or a gerund), it still takes “is” because the action or idea is treated as one single concept.
- There is no way to fix this tonight.
- There is no point in arguing.
- There is no denying the results.
Using “There Are No” Correctly
“There are no” is reserved for plural countable nouns — anything you can count as more than one.
With Plural Countable Nouns
- There are no chairs in the room.
- There are no tickets left.
- There are no easy answers here.
Quick Test
Ask yourself: “Can I put many or a number in front of this noun?” If yes, use there are no.
There are no or there is no meaning
Both phrases carry the same core meaning — nothing exists or nothing is available — but the noun’s number changes the grammar, not the message. “There is no apple” and “there are no apples” both mean absence; only the quantity implied differs.
Read Also:“In Summer” vs. “In the Summer”: Which Is Correct? Meaning & Usage Explained (2026)
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Error: Using “There Is No” Before Plural Nouns
❌ There is no books on the shelf. ✅ There are no books on the shelf.
This is one of the most common mistakes among learners, especially when the sentence is long and the writer loses track of the noun by the time they reach the verb.
Error: Treating Uncountable Nouns As Plural
❌ There are no informations available. ✅ There is no information available.
Uncountable nouns like information, advice, furniture, and equipment never take a plural “-s,” so they always pair with “is.”
Quick Table: Uncountable Nouns Often Made Plural by Mistake
| Incorrect | Correct |
| There are no informations | There is no information |
| There are no furnitures | There is no furniture |
| There are no advices | There is no advice |
| There are no equipments | There is no equipment |
| There are no news | There is no news |
Error: Confusion with Collective Nouns
Words like team, family, staff, and group look plural in meaning but are grammatically singular in most everyday use.
- ✅ There is no team available for this shift.
- ✅ There is no staff on duty right now.
Tricky Cases Most Learners Struggle With
Some nouns don’t follow the obvious pattern, which is exactly why this rule trips people up even after they “know” it.
Collective Nouns That Shift Meaning
Collective nouns can sometimes take “are” when you’re emphasizing the individual members rather than the group as a whole (more common in British English).
- There is no team ready to compete. (the team as one unit)
- There are no players ready to compete. (the individuals)
Golden Rule
When unsure, treat collective nouns as singular in American English and check context in British English.
Mass Nouns Used in a Countable Way
Some uncountable nouns can become countable when referring to specific types or varieties.
- There is no coffee in the pantry. (uncountable — the substance)
- There are no coffees on the menu I like. (countable — types of coffee)
Quantified Expressions
Phrases with “a lot of,” “plenty of,” or “a number of” follow the noun that comes after them, not the quantifier itself.
Use there is no with:
- a bit of, a little, an amount of + uncountable noun
Use there are no with:
- a number of, plenty of, several + plural noun
Fractions, Percentages, and Numbers
Numbers can be deceptive because they often look plural but aren’t always.
When the phrase refers to one thing, use there is no.
- There is no 10% increase this year.
- There is no single reason for this.
When the phrase refers to multiple things, use there are no.
- There are no two ways about it.
- There are no three options left.
Simple Rule
Look past the number and ask what noun it’s actually describing — singular or plural.
Tips to Master “There Is No” and “There Are No”
- Always identify the noun immediately after “no” before choosing the verb.
- Say the sentence out loud — your ear often catches errors your eyes miss.
- Keep a short list of tricky uncountable nouns (information, advice, furniture, news, equipment) handy.
- Practice with real sentences from articles, emails, or books.
- Reread longer sentences fully before finalizing the verb choice.
Read Also:/“On the Plane or In the Plane”? The Correct Preposition Explained
Real-World Comparison Examples
| Sentence | Correct Form | Why |
| ___ time to waste. | There is no | “time” is uncountable |
| ___ seats available. | There are no | “seats” is plural |
| ___ excuse for lying. | There is no | “excuse” is singular |
| ___ rules against it. | There are no | “rules” is plural |
| ___ sugar in the jar. | There is no | “sugar” is uncountable |
| ___ apples left. | There are no | “apples” is plural |
Modern Speech Trends: Why People Say “There’s No Rules”
You’ve probably heard someone say “there’s no rules” or “there’s no excuses” in casual conversation or online. It’s everywhere in social media captions, song lyrics, and everyday speech.
Because “there’s” = “there is”
“There’s” is simply the contraction of “there is,” so saying “there’s no rules” technically pairs a singular verb with a plural noun — grammatically incorrect, but common in relaxed speech.
Should you write it?
In formal writing, stick to “there are no rules.” Save “there’s no rules” for casual texts or dialogue where natural speech patterns matter more than strict grammar.
Read AL
Easy Examples to Understand the Difference
- There is no milk in the fridge. / There are no eggs in the fridge.
- There is no reason to panic. / There are no reasons good enough.
- There is no internet connection. / There are no signals available.
- There is no doubt about it. / There are no doubts left.
Pro Tips to Never Forget the Rule
1. Use this one-second rule
Look at the very next noun after “no” — nothing else in the sentence matters for this decision.
2. Look at the noun before making a choice
Don’t rely on how the sentence sounds; rely on what the noun actually is.
3. If the noun takes “a,” use “there is no.”
Example: a car → there is no car.
4. If the noun takes “many,” use “there are no.”
Example: many cars → there are no cars.
5. When in doubt, rewrite the sentence
If you’re unsure whether a noun is countable or uncountable, simplify the sentence until the answer becomes obvious.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of “there is no”?
“There is no” means something does not exist or is not available, used with singular or uncountable nouns.
What is the rule for using is and are?
Use “is” with singular or uncountable nouns and “are” with plural countable nouns.
Is “There is no people” correct?
No — “people” is plural, so the correct form is “there are no people.”
What to use instead of “there is”?
You can use alternatives like “there exists,” “there’s not,” or simply “no ___ exists,” depending on context.
Are “There is no” and “There are no” interchangeable?
No — they aren’t interchangeable; the choice depends strictly on whether the following noun is singular/uncountable or plural.
Conclusion
“There is no” and “there are no” aren’t two random phrases to memorize — they follow one consistent rule: match the verb to the noun that comes right after it. Singular and uncountable nouns take “is.” Plural countable nouns take “are.” Once you train your eye to spot that noun first, the correct choice becomes automatic, whether you’re writing an email, a blog post, or a school essay.
Keep practicing with real sentences, and soon you won’t even need to think about it — the right phrase will simply sound right.
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