Look at these sentences:

• There is a big market near the river; it is very good for fruit and meat.
• There are two buses on Sunday; they both go to the station.

We use there is/are when we talk about something for the first time in a conversation, and when we say where it is or when it is. We do not use there to talk about the same thing again; we use singular it (here meaning ‘the big market’) or plural they (here meaning ‘the two buses’). Here are some more examples:

• There are two schools here; they are both very good.
• There’s a good programme on Sunday; it gives all the sports news.

We use there with different forms of be:

• There weren’t any smartphones 20 years ago.

• A: Have there been any problems this year?
• B: Yes, there have.

• There used to be a park here. (= There was a park here but it isn’t here now.)

• There may be some eggs in the fridge. (= It is possible that there are some eggs …)

We also use there is/are etc. to talk about the number of people or things in a place. Look at these questions and answers:

• A: How many people were there at your party?
• B: There were about 12. (NOT We were about 12.)

• A: Are there many restaurants where you live?
• B: Yes, there must be 10 or more. (NOT They must be 10 …)

We can use of us, of them, etc. after the number:

• There were about 12 of us.

For the weather, we use it with a verb or adjective, but there with a noun:

Notice these examples with it takes:

• It takes seven years to become a doctor.

• A: How long does it take to make bread?
• B: It takes several hours (to make bread).

These sentences describe the time that is necessary to do something.