There Is No vs There Are No: Differences, Rules & Examples Explained

Have you ever paused mid-sentence, unsure whether to write “there is no” or “there are no”? You are not alone. This tiny phrase trips up native speakers and English learners alike, especially when the noun that follows feels tricky to classify.

The good news is that the rule behind this confusion is simple once you understand it. In this guide, you will learn exactly when to use each phrase, why the rule exists, and how to avoid the most common mistakes people make in writing and speech.

Table of Contents

What “There Is No” and “There Are No” Actually Mean

Both phrases express absence. They tell the reader that something does not exist, is not available, or cannot be found. The difference is not about meaning; it is about grammar agreement.

“There” acts as a placeholder subject in these sentences. The real subject is the noun that comes after “no,” and the verb (is or are) must agree with that noun in number. That single detail is the entire secret behind this grammar rule.

Using “There Is No” Correctly

“There is no” is used when the noun that follows is singular or uncountable. Since the noun is treated as one unit, the singular verb “is” fits naturally.

Examples:

There is no reason to worry.
There is no milk in the fridge.
There is no excuse for being late.

There is No vs There are No Meaning

At its core, the meaning of both phrases is identical: something is missing or does not exist. What changes is the number of the noun involved. Once you identify whether the noun is singular, uncountable, or plural, choosing the correct phrase becomes automatic.

With Singular Countable Nouns

When a noun refers to one countable item, always pair it with “there is no.”

There is no chair in this room.
There is no answer to this riddle.
There is no book on the shelf.

Quick Tip

If you can put “a” or “an” before the noun, use “there is no.”

Noun	Can you say “a/an”?	Correct phrase
Chair	Yes (a chair)	There is no chair
Answer	Yes (an answer)	There is no answer
Excuse	Yes (an excuse)	There is no excuse

With Uncountable (Mass) Nouns

Uncountable nouns, also called mass nouns, cannot be counted individually. Words like water, information, advice, furniture, and traffic fall into this group. Even though they may represent a large quantity, they are grammatically singular, so they take “there is no.”

There is no traffic on the highway today.
There is no information available yet.
There is no furniture in the new apartment.

With Infinitives and Gerunds

When the subject of the sentence is an infinitive (to leave) or a gerund (leaving), it is treated as singular, so “there is no” is the correct choice.

There is no way to fix this now.
There is no point in arguing.
There is no use complaining about the weather.

Using “There Are No” Correctly

“There are no” is used when the noun that follows is plural and countable. Since the noun represents more than one item, the plural verb “are” is required for subject-verb agreement.

There are no chairs in this room.
There are no answers to this riddle.
There are no books on the shelf.

With Plural Countable Nouns

Any noun that takes an “s” in its plural form and can be counted individually will always pair with “there are no.”

There are no apples left in the basket.
There are no seats available on this flight.
There are no complaints about the service.

Quick Test

Ask yourself one question: can I count this noun as one, two, three, and so on? If yes, the noun is plural countable, and “there are no” is correct.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Even confident writers slip up with this rule, usually because spoken English bends grammar in ways that formal writing should not follow.

Error: Using “There Is No” Before Plural Nouns

A common mistake looks like this:

Incorrect: There is no rules in this game.
Correct: There are no rules in this game.

Since “rules” is plural, the verb must match with “are,” even though the contracted form “there’s no rules” sounds natural in casual speech.

There is No vs There are No Grammar

The grammar rule can be summarized in one sentence: the verb always agrees with the noun that follows it, not with the word “there” itself. This is called notional agreement, and it applies across formal writing, academic papers, and everyday conversation.

Error: Treating Uncountable Nouns As Plural

Many learners mistakenly add an “s” to uncountable nouns or pair them with “are,” assuming that a large quantity automatically means plural.

Incorrect: There are no informations about the delay.
Correct: There is no information about the delay.

Quick Table: Uncountable Nouns Often Made Plural by Mistake

Uncountable Noun	Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
Information	There are no informations	There is no information
Advice	There are no advices	There is no advice
Furniture	There are no furnitures	There is no furniture
Traffic	There are no traffics	There is no traffic
Equipment	There are no equipments	There is no equipment

Error: Confusion with Collective Nouns

Collective nouns such as team, family, staff, and committee refer to a group but are often treated as singular in American English and can be treated as either singular or plural in British English depending on context.

There is no team ready for the tournament yet. (group as a single unit)
There are no staff available to help right now. (group members acting individually, common in British usage)

Tricky Cases Most Learners Struggle With

Some nouns do not fit neatly into “singular” or “plural,” which is exactly why they cause the most confusion. The next few sections break down these tricky categories one at a time.

Collective Nouns That Shift Meaning

A collective noun can shift between singular and plural depending on whether the group is acting as one unit or as separate individuals.

There is no committee formed for this project. (one unit)
There are no committee members present. (individuals within the noun phrase)

Golden Rule

Look at the noun immediately governing the sentence, not the collective noun alone. In the second example above, “members” is the true countable noun driving the verb choice.

Mass Nouns Used in a Countable Way

Some nouns are usually uncountable but become countable when referring to specific types or varieties.

There is no coffee left in the pot. (uncountable, general substance)
There are no coffees on the menu that I like. (countable, referring to different types of coffee drinks)

Quantified Expressions

Words like “some,” “any,” “a lot of,” and “plenty of” do not have their own number. Their agreement depends entirely on the noun that follows them.

Use there is no with:

There is no sugar left.
There is no time to waste.
There is no reason for concern.

Use there are no with:

There are no eggs in the carton.
There are no tickets remaining.
There are no excuses left to make.

Fractions, Percentages, and Numbers

Fractions and percentages follow the noun that comes after “of,” not the number itself.

When the phrase refers to one thing, use there is no.

There is no 10 percent increase in salary this year. (referring to a single increase)

When the phrase refers to multiple things, use there are no.

There are no 10 percent discounts available on these items. (referring to multiple discount instances)

Simple Rule

Focus on the noun following the percentage or fraction, since that noun ultimately decides whether the sentence needs “is” or “are.”

Real-World Comparison Examples

Sentence with “There Is No”	Sentence with “There Are No”
There is no water in the bottle.	There are no bottles left on the shelf.
There is no doubt about his honesty.	There are no doubts about the results.
There is no parking space available.	There are no parking spaces available.
There is no internet connection here.	There are no connections detected on the network.
There is no milk in the recipe.	There are no eggs in the recipe.

Modern Speech Trends: Why People Say “There’s No Rules”

Casual conversation and social media have popularized contractions that blur grammar lines. Saying “there’s no rules” instead of “there are no rules” has become common, especially in spoken English and informal writing.

Because “there’s” = “there is”

The contraction “there’s” always stands for “there is,” never “there are.” When speakers use it before a plural noun, they are technically breaking subject-verb agreement, even though it sounds smooth in fast speech.

Should you write it?

In formal writing, essays, emails, and professional content, avoid this shortcut. Stick to “there are no” when the following noun is plural, no matter how common the contraction sounds in everyday talk.

There is No vs There are No Grammatically

Grammatically speaking, this entire rule rests on one principle: verbs agree with their true subject, and in “there” sentences, that subject sits after the verb rather than before it. Recognizing this hidden subject is the key to mastering the rule permanently.

Pro Tips to Never Forget the Rule

Here are five practical techniques that make this grammar rule stick for good.

1. Use this one-second rule

Before writing the sentence, pause for one second and identify the noun that follows “no.” That single second is often enough to catch a mistake before it happens.

2. Look at the noun before making a choice

Never decide based on how the sentence sounds. Always check whether the noun is singular, uncountable, or plural first.

3. If the noun takes “a,” use “there is no.”

Nouns that can be preceded by “a” or “an” are singular countable nouns and require “there is no.”

4. If the noun takes “many,” use “there are no.”

Nouns that pair naturally with “many” are plural countable nouns and require “there are no.”

5. When in doubt, rewrite the sentence

If you are still unsure, rewrite the sentence without “there” and see which verb fits naturally. For example, “Rules do not exist” confirms that “rules” needs “are,” so the correct form is “there are no rules.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “there is no” or “there are no” correct? Both are correct; the choice depends on whether the following noun is singular/uncountable or plural.

Is “there’s no rules” grammatically correct? No, it should be “there are no rules” in formal writing since “rules” is plural.

Does “information” take “is” or “are”? “Information” is uncountable, so it always takes “there is no information.”

Can “there are no” be used with uncountable nouns? No, uncountable nouns always pair with “there is no,” regardless of quantity.

Why do collective nouns confuse this rule? Because they can act as one unit (singular) or represent multiple individuals (plural), depending on context.

Conclusion

Understanding There Is No vs There Are No is simple once you know the difference between singular and plural nouns. Use “there is no” with singular or uncountable nouns, and “there are no” with plural nouns to ensure your sentences are grammatically correct.

By mastering There Is No vs There Are No, you can improve your English writing and speaking with greater accuracy and confidence. Practice these forms in everyday conversations, and choosing the correct expression will soon become natural.