Chapter: There isn’t / There aren’t
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Class Seven
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
exist — অস্তিত্ব থাকাpresence — উপস্থিতিabsence — অনুপস্থিতিavailable — উপলব্ধneighbouring — প্রতিবেশী বা কাছাকাছিfacility — সুবিধা বা সেবা-সুবিধাtubewell — নলকূপdisease — রোগsuffer from — ভোগাdrinking water — পানীয় জলsingular — একবচনplural — বহুবচনcountable — গণনাযোগ্যuncountable — অগণনীয়negative — নেতিবাচকcontraction — সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপThere is — আছে বা রয়েছে, একবচনের আগেThere are — আছে বা রয়েছে, বহুবচনের আগেThere isn’t — নেই, একবচন বা অগণনীয় noun-এর সঙ্গেThere aren’t — নেই, বহুবচন noun-এর সঙ্গে
📃 Word Formation Rules
► is not → isn’t: negative contraction of is not.
► are not → aren’t: negative contraction of are not.
► There is + singular noun: There is a book.
► There are + plural noun: There are books.
► There isn’t + a/an + singular noun: There isn’t a fan.
► There isn’t + any + uncountable noun: There isn’t any water.
► There aren’t + any + plural noun: There aren’t any students.
► no + noun can be changed into not any + noun: There is no milk → There isn’t any milk.
► many is used with plural countable nouns: There aren’t many people.
► much is used with uncountable nouns: There isn’t much water.
► Various nouns ending in -s are plural: disease → diseases, player → players, tourist → tourists.
► Neighbour + -ing → neighbouring: a village near another village.
1. Existence and Presence (8 words)
exist[/ɪɡˈzɪst/]verbmedium
Meaning: অস্তিত্ব থাকা; to be present
Alt: বাস্তবে থাকা
Example: Many kinds of animals exist in the forest.
Syn: live, be presentAnt: disappear, vanish
💡 Exam tip: Use exist to describe the presence or reality of something.
existence[/ɪɡˈzɪstəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: অস্তিত্ব; the state of being
Alt: উপস্থিতি
Example: There is no evidence of the existence of a tiger here.
Syn: presence, beingAnt: absence, nonexistence
💡 Exam tip: Existence is the noun form of exist.
presence[/ˈprezəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: উপস্থিতি; being in a place
Alt: উপস্থিত থাকার অবস্থা
Example: The presence of many trees makes the village beautiful.
Syn: attendance, appearanceAnt: absence
💡 Exam tip: Use presence when someone or something is in a particular place.
absence[/ˈæbsəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: অনুপস্থিতি; lack of presence
Alt: না থাকা
Example: The absence of clean water causes many diseases.
Syn: lack, nonattendanceAnt: presence, attendance
💡 Exam tip: Absence is often followed by of: the absence of water.
available[/əˈveɪləbl/]adjmedium
Meaning: উপলব্ধ; ready to be used
Alt: পাওয়া যায় এমন
Example: There isn’t any clean water available in the village.
Syn: obtainable, accessibleAnt: unavailable, missing
💡 Exam tip: Available means something can be obtained or used.
missing[/ˈmɪsɪŋ/]adjeasy
Meaning: নিখোঁজ; not present
Alt: অনুপস্থিত
Example: There are two books missing from the shelf.
Syn: absent, lostAnt: present, found
💡 Exam tip: Missing can describe a person or thing that is not present.
present[/ˈprezənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: উপস্থিত; in a place
Alt: বর্তমান
Example: All the students are present in the classroom.
Syn: available, attendingAnt: absent, missing
💡 Exam tip: Present is the opposite of absent.
lack[/læk/]nounmedium
Meaning: অভাব; absence of something
Alt: ঘাটতি
Example: There is a lack of electricity in the remote village.
Syn: shortage, absenceAnt: abundance, plenty
💡 Exam tip: Lack may be used as a noun or a verb.
2. Places and Public Facilities (8 words)
village[/ˈvɪlɪdʒ/]nouneasy
Meaning: গ্রাম; a rural settlement
Alt: পল্লি এলাকা
Example: There isn’t any tubewell in our village.
Syn: rural area, hamletAnt: city, metropolis
💡 Exam tip: Village is a countable singular noun, so use there is or there isn’t.
neighbouring[/ˈneɪbərɪŋ/]adjmedium
Meaning: প্রতিবেশী; situated nearby
Alt: কাছাকাছি অবস্থিত
Example: We collect water from the neighbouring village.
Syn: nearby, adjoiningAnt: distant, faraway
💡 Exam tip: Neighbouring usually comes before a noun.
station[/ˈsteɪʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: স্টেশন; a stopping place for transport
Alt: কোনো সেবা বা কার্যক্রমের কেন্দ্র
Example: There aren’t many people at the station today.
Syn: terminal, stopAnt: destination
💡 Exam tip: Station is a countable noun: a station, many stations.
grocery[/ˈɡrəʊsəri/]nounmedium
Meaning: মুদি দোকান; a shop selling food items
Alt: মুদি পণ্য
Example: There’s a grocery near our house.
Syn: food shop, marketAnt: absence
💡 Exam tip: Grocery may mean a shop or food items bought from a shop.
medicine[/ˈmedɪsɪn/]nouneasy
Meaning: ওষুধ; a substance used to treat illness
Alt: চিকিৎসা
Example: There isn’t any medicine in the first-aid box.
Syn: drug, medicationAnt: poison
💡 Exam tip: Medicine is generally uncountable when referring to treatment.
tubewell[/ˈtjuːwel/]nouneasy
Meaning: নলকূপ; a water well with a pump
Alt: পাম্পযুক্ত পানির উৎস
Example: There isn’t any tubewell in our village.
Syn: water pump, wellAnt: dryness
💡 Exam tip: Use there is with one tubewell and there are with several tubewells.
facility[/fəˈsɪləti/]nounhard
Meaning: সুবিধা; a service or building provided for a purpose
Alt: সেবা-সুবিধা
Example: There aren’t enough medical facilities in the area.
Syn: service, amenityAnt: obstacle, inconvenience
💡 Exam tip: Facility is countable; its plural form is facilities.
hotel[/həʊˈtel/]nouneasy
Meaning: হোটেল; a place providing accommodation
Alt: আবাসিক ভবন
Example: There isn’t any room service in this hotel.
Syn: inn, lodgeAnt: home
💡 Exam tip: Hotel is a countable noun and takes a or an in the singular.
3. Countable Nouns and Plurals (8 words)
people[/ˈpiːpl/]nouneasy
Meaning: মানুষজন; human beings
Alt: লোকজন
Example: There aren’t many people in the party.
Syn: persons, humansAnt: nobody
💡 Exam tip: People is the plural of person and takes there are or there aren’t.
star[/stɑːr/]nouneasy
Meaning: তারা; a shining object in the sky
Alt: নক্ষত্র
Example: There aren’t any stars in the cloudy sky.
Syn: celestial body, luminaryAnt: darkness
💡 Exam tip: Use stars after numbers or words such as many and any.
cloud[/klaʊd/]nouneasy
Meaning: মেঘ; a mass of water vapour in the sky
Alt: মেঘমালা
Example: There aren’t any clouds in the sky.
Syn: mass, vapour bankAnt: clear sky
💡 Exam tip: Cloud is countable when individual clouds are meant.
corn[/kɔːrn/]nounmedium
Meaning: ভুট্টা; a cereal plant or its grain
Alt: শস্যদানা
Example: There aren’t any corns in the field.
Syn: maize, grainAnt: weed
💡 Exam tip: In school exercises, corns may be used as a plural countable noun for corn plants or ears.
snake[/sneɪk/]nouneasy
Meaning: সাপ; a long legless reptile
Alt: সরীসৃপ প্রাণী
Example: There aren’t any snakes in the jungle.
Syn: serpent, reptileAnt: human
💡 Exam tip: Use snakes with there are when referring to more than one snake.
beggar[/ˈbeɡər/]nounmedium
Meaning: ভিক্ষুক; a person who begs for money
Alt: ভিক্ষা করে এমন ব্যক্তি
Example: There aren’t any beggars at the station.
Syn: panhandler, pauperAnt: donor, giver
💡 Exam tip: The plural of beggar is beggars.
tourist[/ˈtʊərɪst/]nouneasy
Meaning: পর্যটক; a person travelling for pleasure
Alt: ভ্রমণকারী
Example: There aren’t any tourists this season.
Syn: traveller, visitorAnt: resident, local
💡 Exam tip: Tourist is a countable noun; use tourists after any or many.
player[/ˈpleɪər/]nouneasy
Meaning: খেলোয়াড়; a person who plays a game
Alt: ক্রীড়াবিদ
Example: There aren’t any players on the court.
Syn: athlete, competitorAnt: spectator
💡 Exam tip: The plural form player becomes players by adding -s.
4. Uncountable Nouns and Substances (8 words)
water[/ˈwɔːtər/]nouneasy
Meaning: পানি; a clear liquid essential for life
Alt: জল
Example: There isn’t any water in the jug.
Syn: H2O, liquidAnt: dryness
💡 Exam tip: Water is uncountable, so use there is or there isn’t, not there are.
milk[/mɪlk/]nouneasy
Meaning: দুধ; a white nourishing liquid
Alt: পানীয় দুধ
Example: There isn’t any milk in the bottle.
Syn: dairy drink, lacteal fluidAnt: dryness
💡 Exam tip: Use any milk in negative sentences, not many milk.
sugar[/ˈʃʊɡər/]nouneasy
Meaning: চিনি; a sweet substance
Alt: মিষ্টিকারক পদার্থ
Example: There isn’t any sugar in the pot.
Syn: sweetener, sucroseAnt: salt
💡 Exam tip: Sugar is normally uncountable; use a spoonful of sugar for a countable unit.
dust[/dʌst/]nouneasy
Meaning: ধুলো; fine dry particles
Alt: ময়লা কণা
Example: There isn’t any dust after the rain.
Syn: dirt, powderAnt: cleanliness
💡 Exam tip: Dust is generally uncountable when referring to particles collectively.
electricity[/ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/]nounmedium
Meaning: বিদ্যুৎ; a form of energy
Alt: বৈদ্যুতিক শক্তি
Example: There isn’t any electricity in the city.
Syn: power, energyAnt: power failure
💡 Exam tip: Electricity is uncountable, so use there isn’t any electricity.
pollution[/pəˈluːʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: দূষণ; harmful contamination of the environment
Alt: পরিবেশ নষ্টকারী পদার্থ
Example: There isn’t much air pollution in the village.
Syn: contamination, uncleannessAnt: purity, cleanliness
💡 Exam tip: Pollution is uncountable and is often used with much.
air[/eər/]nouneasy
Meaning: বায়ু; the mixture of gases around Earth
Alt: হাওয়া
Example: There isn’t much fresh air in the crowded city.
Syn: atmosphere, breezeAnt: vacuum
💡 Exam tip: Air is uncountable when referring to the atmosphere.
spice[/spaɪs/]nounmedium
Meaning: মসলা; a substance used to flavour food
Alt: খাদ্যের সুগন্ধি উপাদান
Example: There aren’t any spices left in the box.
Syn: seasoning, flavouringAnt: blandness
💡 Exam tip: Use spices for separate kinds or items of spice.
5. Problems, Health and Solutions (8 words)
disease[/dɪˈziːz/]nouneasy
Meaning: রোগ; an illness affecting a person or organism
Alt: অসুস্থতা
Example: There aren’t many diseases in the clean village.
Syn: illness, sicknessAnt: health, wellness
💡 Exam tip: Disease is countable when referring to particular illnesses.
problem[/ˈprɒbləm/]nouneasy
Meaning: সমস্যা; a difficult matter
Alt: জটিলতা
Example: There are many problems in collecting drinking water.
Syn: difficulty, troubleAnt: solution, advantage
💡 Exam tip: The plural of problem is problems; use there are with it.
trouble[/ˈtrʌbl/]nounmedium
Meaning: ঝামেলা; difficulty or distress
Alt: দুর্ভোগ
Example: There is a lot of trouble in getting safe water.
Syn: difficulty, distressAnt: comfort, ease
💡 Exam tip: Trouble is often uncountable when it means difficulty in general.
suffer[/ˈsʌfər/]verbmedium
Meaning: ভোগা; to experience pain or difficulty
Alt: কষ্ট পাওয়া
Example: The villagers suffer from various diseases.
Syn: endure, experienceAnt: enjoy, recover
💡 Exam tip: Use suffer from before the name of an illness or problem.
collect[/kəˈlekt/]verbeasy
Meaning: সংগ্রহ করা; to gather or obtain
Alt: জড়ো করা
Example: We go to the neighbouring village to collect drinking water.
Syn: gather, obtainAnt: distribute, scatter
💡 Exam tip: After to, use the base form: to collect.
drinking[/ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ/]adjmedium
Meaning: পানীয়; suitable for drinking
Alt: পান করার উপযোগী
Example: There isn’t enough drinking water in the village.
Syn: potable, drinkableAnt: undrinkable, toxic
💡 Exam tip: Drinking water means water that is safe or intended for drinking.
safe[/seɪf/]adjeasy
Meaning: নিরাপদ; free from danger or harm
Alt: বিপদমুক্ত
Example: There isn’t any safe water nearby.
Syn: secure, harmlessAnt: dangerous, unsafe
💡 Exam tip: The opposite of safe is unsafe, not unsafely.
solution[/səˈluːʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: সমাধান; an answer to a problem
Alt: সমস্যা দূর করার উপায়
Example: There is a simple solution to the water problem.
Syn: answer, remedyAnt: problem, question
💡 Exam tip: Solution is a countable noun: a solution, several solutions.
6. Grammar Terms and Useful Expressions (8 words)
singular[/ˈsɪŋɡjələr/]adjeasy
Meaning: একবচন; referring to one
Alt: একটি বোঝায় এমন
Example: There is is used before a singular noun.
Syn: one, individualAnt: plural, multiple
💡 Exam tip: Singular nouns usually take there is or there isn’t.
plural[/ˈplʊərəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: বহুবচন; referring to more than one
Alt: একাধিক বোঝায় এমন
Example: There are is used before a plural noun.
Syn: many, multipleAnt: singular, single
💡 Exam tip: Plural nouns usually take there are or there aren’t.
countable[/ˈkaʊntəbl/]adjmedium
Meaning: গণনাযোগ্য; able to be counted
Alt: সংখ্যায় গণনা করা যায় এমন
Example: Book is a countable noun.
Syn: numbered, enumerableAnt: uncountable
💡 Exam tip: Countable nouns can have singular and plural forms.
uncountable[/ʌnˈkaʊntəbl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অগণনীয়; not usually counted separately
Alt: আলাদা আলাদাভাবে গণনা করা যায় না এমন
Example: Water is an uncountable noun.
Syn: mass, noncountAnt: countable
💡 Exam tip: Use there isn’t with uncountable nouns such as water, milk and sugar.
negative[/ˈneɡətɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: নেতিবাচক; expressing no or not
Alt: অস্বীকৃতিমূলক
Example: There isn’t any water is a negative sentence.
Syn: denying, opposingAnt: affirmative, positive
💡 Exam tip: Negative forms are there isn’t and there aren’t.
contraction[/kənˈtrækʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ; a shortened form of words
Alt: দুটি শব্দের সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ
Example: Isn’t is the contraction of is not.
Syn: short form, abbreviationAnt: full form
💡 Exam tip: There is not becomes there isn’t; there are not becomes there aren’t.
subject[/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/]nounmedium
Meaning: উদ্দেশ্য বা কর্তা; the noun being discussed
Alt: বাক্যে যার সম্পর্কে বলা হয়
Example: In There are many stars, stars is the subject.
Syn: topic, noun phraseAnt: object
💡 Exam tip: After there is or there are, identify the real subject to choose the correct verb.
extension[/ɪkˈstenʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: বিস্তারাংশ; words that add information to a sentence
Alt: বাক্যের অতিরিক্ত তথ্য
Example: In There is a pen under the book, under the book is the extension.
Syn: addition, expansionAnt: omission, reduction
💡 Exam tip: An extension may tell where, when or how something exists.
💡 Exam Tips
• Use there is or there isn’t with a singular noun: There isn’t a policeman.
• Use there are or there aren’t with a plural noun: There aren’t any players.
• Use there isn’t with uncountable nouns such as water, milk, sugar, dust, air and electricity.
• In negative sentences, no can often be changed to any after isn’t or aren’t.
• Do not use there are with an uncountable noun: write There isn’t any water, not There aren’t any water.
• Use a or an before a singular countable noun when necessary: There isn’t a dog; There isn’t an old tree.
• Use any in most negative sentences: There aren’t any clouds in the sky.
• Remember the contractions: is not = isn’t and are not = aren’t.
• In a sentence with there is or there are, the noun after the verb determines singular or plural agreement.
• For rewriting, keep the meaning unchanged: There are no snakes → There aren’t any snakes.
• Read the whole sentence before choosing isn’t or aren’t.
• In gap-filling questions, check whether the following noun is singular, plural or uncountable.