There was and There were: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. ___ a small café on this corner ten years ago. → There was

A café is singular, so the verb after there is was.

2. ___ three cinemas in the town when I was young. → There were

Three cinemas is plural, so the verb is were.

3. ___ a lot of traffic on the motorway. → There was

Traffic is uncountable and therefore singular, so the verb is was.

4. ___ a lot of people at the concert. → There were

People is a countable plural, so the verb is were — even after a lot of.

5. ___ any milk in the fridge this morning. → There wasn't

Milk is uncountable and singular, so the negative is there wasn't.

6. ___ many shops open on the holiday. → There weren't

Shops is a countable plural, so the negative is there weren't.

7. ___ a message for me while I was out? → Was there

A message is singular, and the verb moves in front of there to make a question.

8. ___ any tickets left at the box office? → Were there

Tickets is plural, so the question begins with were there.

9. Which sentence is correct? → There was a problem with the booking.

A problem is one singular thing, so the verb is was.

10. ___ a lot of noise from the street last night. → There was

Noise is uncountable and takes a singular verb.

11. ___ two letters for you on the doormat. → There were

Two letters is plural, so the verb is were.

12. ___ enough chairs for everybody? → Were there

Chairs is a countable plural, so the question begins with were there.

13. ___ nothing in the cupboard except a tin of beans. → There was

Nothing is grammatically singular in English, so the verb is was.

14. ___ some beautiful old buildings in the centre. → There were

Buildings is a countable plural, so the verb is were.

15. Which sentence is correct? → There were a lot of people.

The noun after a lot of decides the verb, and people is plural.

16. ___ any snow last winter? → Was there

Snow is uncountable and singular, so the question begins with was there.

17. ___ four of us in the flat at the time. → There were

Four of us is plural, so the verb is were.

18. ___ much to do in the village in those days. → There wasn't

Much is uncountable and singular, so the negative is there wasn't.

19. "Was there a queue?" — "Yes, ___." → there was

The short answer repeats there plus the same verb form used in the question.

20. ___ any problems with the delivery? → Were there

Problems is a countable plural, so the question takes were there.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. There ___ a bakery on this street in my grandmother's day. → was

A bakery is one singular thing, so the verb after there is singular too.

2. There ___ five people waiting in the corridor. → were

Five people is plural, so the verb is were.

3. There ___ a lot of rain last weekend. → was

Rain is uncountable and therefore takes a singular verb.

4. There ___ two supermarkets here before the new one opened. → were

Two supermarkets is plural, so the verb is were.

5. There ___ any coffee left when I got to the kitchen. → wasn't

Coffee is uncountable and singular, so the negative is wasn't.

6. There ___ many students in the library yesterday. → weren't

Students is a countable plural, so the negative is weren't.

7. ___ there a message for me at reception? → Was

A message is singular, and the verb moves in front of there to form a question.

8. ___ there any seats left on the train? → Were

Seats is a countable plural, so the question takes were.

9. There ___ a lot of noise from the building site. → was

Noise is uncountable, so the verb is singular.

10. There ___ three eggs in the box, but now there is one. → were

Three eggs is plural, so the past verb is were.

11. There ___ nothing interesting on television last night. → was

Nothing is grammatically singular in English.

12. There ___ some lovely old houses along the river. → were

Houses is a countable plural, so the verb is were.

13. ___ there much snow in the mountains? → Was

Snow is uncountable and singular, so the question begins with was.

14. There ___ a queue right round the block. → was

A queue is one singular thing.

15. There ___ enough chairs for all the guests. → weren't

Chairs is a countable plural, so the negative is weren't.

16. ___ there any problems with the flight? → Were

Problems is plural, so the question takes were.

17. There ___ a power cut in our street on Tuesday. → was

A power cut is one singular event.

18. There ___ several messages on the answering machine. → were

Several messages is plural, so the verb is were.

19. There ___ any hot water this morning. → wasn't

Water is uncountable and singular, so the negative is wasn't.

20. There ___ four of us in the team at the beginning. → were

Four of us is plural, so the verb is were.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe one thing that used to exist in a town centre. → There was a market in the square.

Describe one thing that used to exist in a town centre.

2. Describe several places that existed in the past. → There were three cinemas in our town.

Describe several places that existed in the past.

3. Describe the weather using an uncountable noun. → There was a lot of rain yesterday.

Describe the weather using an uncountable noun.

4. Describe a crowded place in the past. → There were many people at the station.

Describe a crowded place in the past.

5. Ask whether one note was left. → Was there a message for me?

Ask whether one note was left.

6. Ask whether entry was still available. → Were there any tickets left?

Ask whether entry was still available.

7. Report that an uncountable food had run out. → There wasn't any milk in the fridge.

Report that an uncountable food had run out.

8. Explain that few businesses were trading. → There weren't many shops open.

Explain that few businesses were trading.

9. Report one difficulty with a reservation. → There was a problem with the booking.

Report one difficulty with a reservation.

10. Describe post you found at home. → There were two letters on the table.

Describe post you found at home.

11. Report that a storage space was empty. → There was nothing in the cupboard.

Report that a storage space was empty.

12. Ask about an uncountable weather noun. → Was there much snow last winter?

Ask about an uncountable weather noun.

13. Say how many people shared a home. → There were four of us in the flat.

Say how many people shared a home.

14. Describe people waiting at an attraction. → There was a queue outside the museum.

Describe people waiting at an attraction.

15. Ask about difficulties during somebody's day. → Were there any problems at work?

Ask about difficulties during somebody's day.

16. Report a shortage of seating. → There weren't enough chairs for everybody.

Report a shortage of seating.

17. Complain about disturbance using an uncountable noun. → There was a lot of noise last night.

Complain about disturbance using an uncountable noun.

18. Describe the contents of a gallery. → There were some beautiful paintings there.

Describe the contents of a gallery.

19. Ask about one facility close to where you stayed. → Was there a bank near the hotel?

Ask about one facility close to where you stayed.

20. Report a plumbing problem. → There wasn't any hot water this morning.

Report a plumbing problem.