there's

There's a small bird sitting on the fence.

Definition

1. Contraction:
   • Short form of "there is": "there's" is a contraction used in informal speech and writing to combine "there" and "is".
   • Short form of "there has": "there's" can also be a contraction for "there has", though this usage is less common.

Usage Examples

• As "there is":

  • There's a cat on the roof. (A cat exists on the roof.)
  • There's no time to waste. (No time exists to waste.)

• As "there has":

  • There's been a lot of rain this week. (There has been a lot of rain.)
  • There's never been a better time to start. (There has never been a better time.)

Advanced Usage

• "there's no telling": it is impossible to know or predict.

  • There's no telling what he will do next. (It is impossible to know his next action.)

• "there's no use": it is pointless or futile.

  • There's no use crying over spilt milk. (It is useless to regret what cannot be undone.)

Variants and Related Words

• There (adv): in, at, or to that place or position.

  • The book is there on the shelf. (The book is located on the shelf.)

• There’s (contraction): identical to "there's", used in writing to represent the same spoken form.

Synonyms

• It is: a similar contraction used to introduce a state or condition.

  • It's raining. (Rain is falling.)

• There exists: a more formal way to express existence.

  • There exists a solution to the problem. (A solution is present.)

Phrasal Verbs

• (Not applicable: "there's" is a contraction, not a verb.)

Related Idioms

• There's no such thing as a free lunch: everything has a cost or consequence.

  • He thought he got a bargain, but there's no such thing as a free lunch. (The bargain likely has hidden costs.)

• There's more than one way to skin a cat: there are many ways to achieve the same goal.

  • Don't give up; there's more than one way to skin a cat. (There are alternative methods.)