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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Are both of them useable?

Hi teachers,

1. What was in front of him?
In front of him were the trees.

2. What was there in front of him?
In front of him there were the trees.

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

I would say: What was there in front of him? [There were] trees. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • I would say: What was there in front of him?
  • [There were] trees.
  • CB
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14 Answers
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I would say:

What was there in front of him?
[There were] trees.

CB
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Hi CB,
Thank you for your reply.
How about this one?
What was in front of him?
The trees (were in front of him).

TS
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Thinking SpainHi CB,Thank you for your reply.How about this one?What was in front of him?The trees (were in front of him).TS
If the trees had been discussed earlier, it could be possible.

CB
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Cool BreezeIf the trees had been discussed earlier, it could be possible. No, they hadn't been discussed earlier.
Hi CB,
Thank you for you reply.
This is the context and the beginning of the story:
Over the man’s head the night sky was black and cold, and in front of him were the trees.

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Thinking SpainHi teachers,1. What was in front of him?In front of him were the trees.2. What was there in front of him?In front of him there were the trees.Thanks in advance.
I think I'd ask, "What was in front of him?" and expect any one of these answers:

Trees.
The trees.
The trees were in front of him.
There were trees in front of him.
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Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reply and answers.Emotion: smile
I've always asked myself this question, why I can omit 'there' in a question,
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Thinking Spainwhy I can omit 'there' in a question, like this one "What was in front of him?", but I have to use 'there' in the answer.
But you don't have to use 'there' in the answer. Note that my suggested answers do not all include 'there'.

CJ
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CalifJimBut you don't have to use 'there' in the answer. Note that my suggested answers do not all include 'there'.
Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reply. Yes, I've seen them. Though many times I have seen, the question without 'there' for example:
1. What is on the wall? There are two pictures.
2. What was in that box? There were your sister's photos.
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Thinking SpainThough many times I have seen, the question without 'there' for example:
1. What is on the wall? There are two pictures.
2. What was in that box? There were your sister's photos.etc.TS
Hi TS,

In your given examples the word 'there' replaces the repeating of 'on the wall' and 'in that box' respectively.
If you would spell out
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I think we may have to mark it down as just another idiosyncrasy of English. Emotion: smile

CJ
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