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information.
The notional subject introduced by there is expressed:
1. By any noun or by a noun phrase denoting an inseparable unit or an indefinite amount of something.
There, was silence for a moment.
There was a needle and thread in her fingers.
There were a lot of people in the street.
As the notional subject usually introduces a new idea, the noun expressing it is generally used with the
indefinite article.
2. By some noun-pronouns:
a) indefinite.
Is there anybody there?
There was something wrong about the whole situation.
b) negative.
There was nobody in.
There was nothing to do.
c) universal (only some of them).
There were all of them on the bank.
There were both of them present.
The pronouns of these three classes are the most frequent in existential sentences. The ones that follow are
very seldom used:
d) detaching.
There was the other to be asked.
e) demonstrative.
There is this which is to be settled.
3. By a gerund or a gerundial phrase.
There was no talking that evening.
There’s no going against bad blood.
4. By a clause.
First, there is what we might call a pattern.
The predicate in such sentences is generally a simple verbal predicate expressed by the verbs to be, to
appear, to live, to come, to go, or some other similar verbs.
At last far off there appeared a tiny spot.
Once upon a time there lived a king.
Then there came a lightning.
Occasionally the predicate may be a compound verbal modal predicate or a predicate of double orientation.
In both cases their second parts are expressed by the verb to be, or one of the others mentioned above.
a) There must be something wrong with him.