There is no or There are no: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: Choosing between there is no and there are no depends entirely on the noun that follows. Use there is no with singular or uncountable nouns. You must use there are no when the subject is a plural noun. This simple rule keeps your grammar precise and professional.
The Short Answer
Use there is no with singular or uncountable nouns, and use there are no with plurals.
Confusion often arises because the phrase starts with there, which does not indicate number. Writers sometimes match the verb to the word no instead of the actual subject noun that follows it.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| there is no | Correct | the subject is a singular noun like cake |
| there are no | Correct | the subject is a plural noun like cookies |
| there is not | Correct | negating a singular or uncountable subject |
| there are not | Correct | negating a plural subject in formal writing |
Correct Example Sentences
- There is no reason to worry about the small delay.
- There are no tickets left for tonight's concert.
- There is no milk in the refrigerator this morning.
- There are no good excuses for missing the deadline.
- There is no doubt that she is the best candidate.
- There are no other options available at this time.
- There is no space for another box in the car.
- There are no survivors from the small plane crash.
- There is no evidence to support that strange claim.
- There are no rules against wearing casual clothes today.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- There is no students in the classroom.
- There are no students in the classroom.
- There are no water left in the bottle.
- There is no water left in the bottle.
- There is no keys on the table.
- There are no keys on the table.
- There are no advice I can give you.
- There is no advice I can give you.
- There is no chairs in the waiting room.
- There are no chairs in the waiting room.
- There are no time to waste right now.
- There is no time to waste right now.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Identify the main noun after the verb. If you can add an s to make it plural, use there are no. If the noun cannot be plural or stands alone as a single item, use there is no. This focus on the actual subject solves the problem.
Related Word Pairs
- its vs it's
- Use its for possession and it's for it is.
- their vs there vs they're
- Their shows ownership, there indicates place, they're means they are.
- your vs you're
- Your indicates possession and you're means you are.
- loose vs lose
- Loose means not tight and lose means to misplace.
- effect vs affect
- Effect is usually the noun and affect is the verb.
More Example Sentences
- There is no signal on my phone in this remote valley.
- There are no seats left in the front row of the theater.
- There is no sugar in the pantry, so we cannot bake the cake.
- There are no flights to London departing this evening.
- There is no way to undo the changes once you click save.
- There are no exceptions to the dress code policy.
- There is no electricity in the building due to the storm.
- There are no passengers waiting on the platform.
- There is no doubt about his commitment to the project.
- There are no cookies left after the party.
Quick Practice
There is/no no milk left in the fridge.
is
There is/are no apples on the counter.
are
There is/are no time to finish the assignment.
is
There is/are no people at the meeting today.
are
There is/are no reason for the alarm to sound.
is
There is/are no buses running late this morning.
are
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use there is no with collective nouns?
Yes, use there is no with collective nouns like team or family when you view them as a single unit. Treat the group as one entity for subject-verb agreement purposes.
Is there is no formal or informal?
Both forms are standard English. There is no distinction in formality between the singular and plural versions. Choose the one that matches your noun's number correctly.
What about uncountable nouns like information?
Use there is no with uncountable nouns like information, advice, or furniture. These words are always treated as singular, even though they represent many items or concepts.
Do regional differences affect this rule?
No, this rule is consistent across American, British, and other English varieties. The subject-verb agreement based on singular or plural nouns remains the same globally.
