יש / אין

There Is and There Is Not

Level 1

יש says that something exists or is available. אין says that it is absent. The same form works with a singular or plural item.

How It Works

Something Is There

Start with יש or אין and name the thing: יש מים, there is water; אין זמן, there is no time. Add a place if needed. Neither word changes to a special plural form when the following noun is plural.

Ask About Availability

יש מים? asks whether water is available. A question can keep the same word order and use question intonation. אין מים? asks whether there is no water, often to check a surprising absence.

Keep the Meaning Separate

יש does not replace every English is. דנה עייפה says Dana is tired; יש דנה עייפה does not express that ordinary description. At this level, use אין for absence and לא for an ordinary negative predicate. Formal declined negatives are taught separately.

Examples (4)

  1. יש ספר על השולחן.

    There is a book on the table.

    Existence is located on the table.

  2. יש כאן ילדים.

    There are children here.

    יש stays unchanged with a plural noun.

  3. אין מים.

    There is no water.

    אין marks absence.

  4. יש זמן?

    Is there time?

    Question intonation turns the availability statement into a question.

Common Mistakes

  • Using לא יש as the basic negative existence pattern.

    לא יש מים.
    אין מים.

    Use אין when the intended meaning is there is no water.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

יש / איןLevel 1There Is and There Is Not

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.