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Dib Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Is "is there you in this photo" correct?

Dear teachers

Can we say:

Is there you in this photo?

Instead of the usual:

Are you in this photo?
  

Top answer

Dib Is there you in this photo? No. That's incorrect.

  • Dib Is there you in this photo?
  • No.
  • That's incorrect.
  • Dib Are you in this photo?
  • That's right.
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4 Answers
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DibIs there you in this photo?
No. That's incorrect.
DibAre you in this photo?
That's right.
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Thank you, sir.

Is the sentence structure alright and it's just that we don't say like that or is it just completely wrong English?

Also is the following possible:

Is John there in that photo?

Or is that incorrect as well?
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DibIs there
This is the question form of the existential there construction There is. This kind of construction takes an indefinite noun phrase like "a cup" or "a key" or "a knife". "you" is not indefinite; it's a definite expression. Therefore, you can have Is there a cup in the photo? or Is there a knife in the phone? but not
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DibAlso is the following possible: Is John there in that photo?
That's a wordy form of Is John in that photo? Here you have locative there, not existential there, so you can say that, but there is the same as in that photo so the word there is not necessary. Nevertheless, that sentence is possible, and the meaning is

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