0
Minh Chiến Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

I need some help

I'm currently studying Linguistics in college. This is my first year so I still have a lot to learn.

So today my cousin (We both aren't native speakers) asked me why this is wrong :

"There isn't my book on the table."

I know that saying "There isn't my..." is wrong. But I couldn't explain it to him grammatically. So can you guys help me with it ?

  

Top answer

" It means that something (general, not specific) exists. " There is a book in my bag. = Some book exists, and it is in my bag.

— AlpheccaStars

  • " It means that something (general, not specific) exists.
  • " There is a book in my bag.
  • = Some book exists, and it is in my bag.
  • There aren't any books in my bag.
  • = No books exist in my bag.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0

That usage of "there" is called the "existential there." It means that something (general, not specific) exists.

When you say "my book," we mean a specific book, and we know it exists, so we do not use the "existential there."

There is a book in my bag. = Some book exists, and it is in my bag.
There aren't any books in my bag. = No books exist in my bag.
My book isn't the

0
0

Note: the word "there" is used in numerous ways in English. The sentence, "There isn't my book on the table.", is not right. But the following are okay:


A: "Your book is on the table. I left it there after reading it."

B: "There isn't a book on the table."


C: "Your book is on the table. I left it there after reading it."

D: "I looked on the table. My

0
0
Minh Chi?nSo today my cousin (We both aren't native speakers Neither of us is a native speaker) asked me why this is wrong:

As shown.

Minh Chi?nThere isn't my book on the table.

It is quite strange to use a definite nou

0

Related Questions