Explanation （説明）
When using the name of things or people（固有名詞), or speaking of something specific （限定名詞), we generally don't use there is or there are.
INDEFINITEThere is a castle in Osaka. It is called "Osaka Castle."
There is a book on the table.
There is a large mountain in my hometown.
DEFINITE
Osaka Castle is, of course, in Osaka, Japan.
My book is on the table.
Stone Mountain is in my hometown.
These seem unnatural:
There is Osaka Castle in Osaka.There is my book on the table.
There is Stone Mountain in my hometown.
Exceptions (There are a lot!) （例外）
1. We can sometimes say "there is (something definite)." We usually use this kind of sentence when we are searching for something and we find it.
Ah! There's my wallet on the table.(In this sentence we would accent the word "there.")
2. If we're using a name for something of which there are many (such as the name of a chain store), we can use "there is."
There is a Kentucky Fried Chicken near my house.(Kentucky Fried Chicken is a proper noun, but there are many of these restaurants.)
3. We can also use "there is/isn't" + someone's name to mean "a person named ~."
On the telephone:A: Hello?
B: Hi. Is Judy there?
A: Sorry, there is no Judy here.
B: I'm sorry--I must have dialed the wrong number.
4. "There is/are" + "the" can be used to change topics to something we talked about earlier or to a topic that we think is understood by the listener.
reintroduced topic
If you don't want to go to the zoo, there is the movie you mentioned earlier. How about seeing that?
changing to a topic we think is understood
Even with the expense issue settled, there is the problem of the length of time it will take to complete the project. I've heard estimates of up to two years.
Exercises（練習）
