Page 239 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

T h e r e i s , t h e r e w a s , e t c .
there
etc.
was,
is,
There
When we introduce a new person or thing into what we are saying - to say that this person or
When we introduce a new person or thing into what we are saying - to say that this person or
use
a particular place - we can
or is to
be
found in
a
sentence
beginning
thing exists, happens,
thing exists, happens, or is to be found in a particular place - we can use a sentence beginning
There + be. In these cases, there is not stressed:
There + be. In these cases, there is not stressed:
a loud bang
from upstairs,
(not A loud bang was from upstairs.)
n @ • + There was a loud bang from upstairs. (not A loud bang was from upstairs.)
There was
There must be something wrong with her phone, (not It must be...)
• * • © Ican't contact Nina.
I can't contact Nina. There must be something wrong with her phone. (not It must be...)
see you. (rather than A woman is outside to see you.)
• ¢ There's a woman outside to to see you. (rather than A woman is outside to see you.)
There's a woman outside
also use this pattern in questions to ask about the existence etc. of people and things:
We also use this pattern in questions to ask about the existence etc. of people and things:
We
there anybody in here?
• ¢ Is Is there anybody in here?
Because we use there in this way to introduce topics, the noun following there + be often has an
Because we use there in this way to introduce topics, the noun following there + be often has an
meaning. So we often use indefinite or non-specific words like a/an, any(one),
indefinite
indefinite meaning. So we often use indefinite or non-specific words like a/an, any(one),
some(thing), no(body), etc. with the noun rather than words like the, this, my, your, or a name,
some(thing), no(body), etc. with the noun rather than words like the, this, my, your, or a name,
give the noun a more definite or specific meaning. Compare:
which
which give the noun a more definite or specific meaning. Compare:
nobody here to see you.
There's nobody here to see you.
• ¢ There's
There was something strange about the way he smiled. and
• ¢ There was something strange about the way he smiled, and
(rather than There was the cat in the kitchen.)
• * The cat was in the kitchen, (rather than There was the cat in the kitchen.)
The cat was in the kitchen.
is waiting for me outside, (rather than There is Sam waiting for me outside.)
Sam is waiting for me outside. (rather than There is Sam waiting for me outside.)
• ¢ Sam
If we do use there + be + the, this is often done to show a change of topic. Choosing the, that,
If we do use there + be + the, this is often done to show a change of topic. Choosing the, that,
+ noun indicates that we think the topic is already known to the hearer or reader:
etc.
etc. + noun indicates that we think the topic is already known to the hearer or reader:
... Alternatively, there is the choice to vote against the planned changes.
• ¢ ... Alternatively, there is the choice to vote against the planned changes.
... And then there is the question of who is going to pay.
• ¢ ... And then there is the question of who is going to pay.
If the noun after be is singular, the verb is singular; if the noun is plural, the verb is plural:
If the noun after be is singular, the verb is singular; if the noun is plural, the verb is plural:
I • ¢ There is a very good reason for my decision.
There is a very good reason for my decision.
There were too many people trying to get into the football stadium.
@ • + There were too many people trying to get into the football stadium.
in informal speech we sometimes use there is before a plural noun:
However,
However, in informal speech we sometimes use there is before a plural noun:
'Well, there's some apples on the table.'
‘Anything to eat?’
• ¢ 'Anything to eat?' 'Well, there's some apples on the table.'
use a singular verb if the first noun
If the noun phrase consists of two or more nouns in a list, we
If the noun phrase consists of two or more nouns in a list, we use a singular verb if the first noun
or uncountable, and a plural verb if the first noun is plural:
is singular or uncountable, and a plural verb if the first noun is plural:
is singular
fridge there was only a bottle of milk, some eggs, and butter.
When I opened the
• * When I opened the fridge there was only a bottle of milk, some eggs, and butter.
a bottle of milk, and butter.
• ¢ When I opened the fridge there were only some eggs, a bottle of milk, and butter.
When I opened the fridge there were only some eggs,
that-c\ause
or w/?-clause:
use
before a
can
there + be + noun
We
We can use there + be + noun before a that-clause or wh-clause:
Is there a chance (that) Delia could arrive this afternoon?
• ¢ Is there a chance (that) Delia could arrive this afternoon?
(why) I can't see you tomorrow.
• ¢ There is no reason (why) I can't see you tomorrow.
There is no reason
also use this pattern with a relative clause, giving information about the noun:
We can
We can also use this pattern with a relative clause, giving information about the noun:
isn't anything (that) you can do to help, I'm afraid.
There isn't anything (that) you can do to help, I'm afraid.
• ¢ • ¢ There 'There was a leave out the relative pronoun when However, we can say:
and • * • ¢ • * • ¢ in There was a small stream running at the bottom of the garden. (with a non-finite verb)
There was a small stream which/that ran at the bottom of the garden.
There was a small stream which/that ran at the bottom of the garden.
it is
a
by
followed
usually
finite verb.
Notice that we don't usually leave out the relative pronoun when it is followed by a finite verb.
Notice that we don't
small stream ran at the bottom...'.
So we can't say 'There was a small stream ran at the bottom...'. However, we can say:
So we can't say
running at the bottom of the garden,
a small stream
non-finite verb)
a
(with
There was
people
spoken English,
leave out the relative pronoun
informal
before a verb:
some
and in informal spoken English, some people leave out the relative pronoun before a verb:
half eleven.
a man
phoned about
(who)
There was
There was a man (who) phoned about half eleven.
reason
something:
a clause with
use
we can
for
a
introduce
there being to
English
In formal
In formal English we can use a clause with there being to introduce a reason for something:
(= Because there was no evidence
There being no evidence against him, Slade was released.
There being no evidence against him, Slade was released. (= Because there was no evidence
him...)
against him...)
against
There being no reports of adverse reactions, the drug is to be made more widely available.
There being no reports of adverse reactions, the drug is to be made more widely available.
There's no...
There's no... =