There was / there were

Practise using there was and there were in affirmative statements, negative statements, and questions. Review the rules in this lesson.

Choose the correct option in each question.

{"buttons":[],"questions":[{"text":"There ... a big cake on the table.","answer":0,"explanation":"Cake is singular, so use was after there.","correct_text":"There <<was>> a big cake on the table.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a cat in the garden.","answer":0,"explanation":"Cat is singular, so use was after there.","correct_text":"There <<was>> a cat in the garden.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a new student in our class yesterday.","answer":0,"explanation":"Student is singular, so use was after there.","correct_text":"There <<was>> a new student in our class yesterday.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... many birds in the sky.","answer":1,"explanation":"Birds is plural, so use were after there.","correct_text":"There <<were>> many birds in the sky.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... three apples in the fridge.","answer":1,"explanation":"Apples is plural, so use were after there.","correct_text":"There <<were>> three apples in the fridge.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... some interesting books on the shelf.","answer":1,"explanation":"Books is plural, so use were after there.","correct_text":"There <<were>> some interesting books on the shelf.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a computer in my room.","answer":0,"explanation":"Computer is singular, so use wasn't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<wasn't>> a computer in my room.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any milk in the glass.","answer":0,"explanation":"Milk is uncountable, so use wasn't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<wasn't>> any milk in the glass.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... a party last week.","answer":0,"explanation":"Party is singular, so use wasn't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<wasn't>> a party last week.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any children in the park.","answer":1,"explanation":"Children is plural, so use weren't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<weren't>> any children in the park.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any pencils on my desk.","answer":1,"explanation":"Pencils is plural, so use weren't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There << weren't>> any pencils on my desk.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any clouds in the sky yesterday.","answer":1,"explanation":"Clouds is plural, so use weren't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<weren't>> any clouds in the sky yesterday.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"... there a dog in the house?","answer":0,"explanation":"Dog is singular, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there a dog in the house?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there a good film on TV?","answer":0,"explanation":"Film is singular, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there a good film on TV?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there a problem with your homework?","answer":0,"explanation":"Problem is singular, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there a problem with your homework?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there many people at the concert?","answer":1,"explanation":"People is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there many people at the concert?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there any elephants at the zoo?","answer":1,"explanation":"Elephants is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there any elephants at the zoo?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there your friends on the playground?","answer":1,"explanation":"Friends is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there your friends on the playground?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"How many students ... there in the library?","answer":1,"explanation":"Students is plural, so use were before there in this question.","correct_text":"How many students <<were>> there in the library?","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"... there a mouse in the kitchen?","answer":0,"explanation":"Mouse is singular, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there a mouse in the kitchen?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"There ... a small spider in the bathroom.","answer":0,"explanation":"Spider is singular, so use was after there.","correct_text":"There <<was>> a small spider in the bathroom.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a funny clown at the circus.","answer":0,"explanation":"Clown is singular, so use was after there.","correct_text":"There <<was>> a funny clown at the circus.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a red ball on the playground.","answer":0,"explanation":"Ball is singular, so use was after there.","correct_text":"There <<was>> a red ball on the playground.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a lot of presents under the Christmas tree.","answer":1,"explanation":"Presents is plural, so use were after there.","correct_text":"There <<were>> many presents under the Christmas tree.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... five birds on the fence.","answer":1,"explanation":"Birds is plural, so use were after there.","correct_text":"There <<were>> five birds on the fence.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a lot of stars in the sky last night.","answer":1,"explanation":"Stars is plural, so use were after there.","correct_text":"There <<were>> a lot of stars in the sky last night.","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"There ... a radio in my room.","answer":0,"explanation":"Radio is singular here, so use wasn't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<wasn't>> a radio in my room.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any juice in the bottle.","answer":0,"explanation":"Juice is uncountable here, so use wasn't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<wasn't>> any juice in the bottle.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... a mistake in my test.","answer":0,"explanation":"Mistake is singular, so use wasn't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<wasn't>> a mistake in my test.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any clouds in the sky this morning.","answer":1,"explanation":"Clouds is plural, so use weren't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<weren't>> any clouds in the sky this morning.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any pictures on the wall.","answer":1,"explanation":"Pictures is plural, so use weren't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<weren't>> any pictures on the wall.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"There ... any sandwiches in the lunchbox.","answer":1,"explanation":"Sandwiches is plural, so use weren't after there in this negative sentence.","correct_text":"There <<weren't>> any sandwiches in the lunchbox.","buttons":["wasn't","weren't"]},{"text":"... there a ghost in the story?","answer":0,"explanation":"Ghost is singular, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there a ghost in the story?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there enough time to finish the game?","answer":0,"explanation":"Time is uncountable here, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there enough time to finish the game?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there a rainbow after the rain?","answer":0,"explanation":"Rainbow is singular, so begin the question with Was.","correct_text":"<<Was>> there a rainbow after the rain?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there many toys in the box?","answer":1,"explanation":"Toys is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there many toys in the box?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there any biscuits on the plate?","answer":1,"explanation":"Biscuits is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there any biscuits on the plate?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"... there your cousins at the birthday party?","answer":1,"explanation":"Cousins is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there your cousins at the birthday party?","buttons":["Was","Were"]},{"text":"How much milk ... there in the fridge?","answer":0,"explanation":"Milk is uncountable, so use was before there in this question.","correct_text":"How much milk <<was>> there in the fridge?","buttons":["was","were"]},{"text":"... there many shells?","answer":1,"explanation":"Shells is plural, so begin the question with Were.","correct_text":"<<Were>> there many shells?","buttons":["Was","Were"]}]}