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Hi teachers,Which is the correct one and why please?1.- Everybody is at home.2.- There is everybody at home.Thanks in advance

Philip · Accepted Answer

1. Perfectly correct.

2. Just wouldn't be said [possibly when pointing out a photograph].

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Philp,

Thank you for your reply.

Then, how come it is possible to say 'there is somebody on the sofa.'

Can we also say, 'Somebody is on the sofa.'?

TS

CalifJim · Answer

Thinking SpainThere is everybody at home.

You can't do this one because 'everybody' is a definite expression. The existential 'there is' construction properly takes only indefinite expressions.

There is a ...

There is some ...

There are several ...

CJ

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi CalifJim,

Thank you very much.

The existential 'there is' construction properly takes only indefinite expressions.

But, we can say there two books on the shelf, can't we?

Then isn't it correct to say, 'There is somebody on the sofa.'?

TS

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi CalifJim,

Thank you very much.

The existential 'there is' construction properly takes only indefinite expressions.

But, we can say there are two books on the shelf, can't we?

I know we can't say, 'there are the books', unless 'there' is an adverb of place, a locative one.

Then, isn't it correct to say, 'There is somebody on the sofa.'?

TS

CalifJim · Answer

some is indefinite, so somebody, something, etc., can be used with existential 'there'.

There is something missing from this shipment of goods.

There is somebody on the sofa.

There are some sandwiches for you in the kitchen.

If you take it as locative 'there' the intonation pattern is different - and this would be unusual.

There is somebody - on the sofa.

______________

Countable plurals are indefinite without 'the', so these are fine:

There are two books on the shelf.

There are a lot of children on the playground.

CJ

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi CalifJim,

Thank YOU once again.

I surmise that I don't have any more doubts about it.

This explanation of yours has helped me incredibly:

some is indefinite, so somebody, something, etc., can be used with existential 'there'

Countable plurals are indefinite without 'the', so these are fine:

There are two books on the shelf.

There are a lot of children on the playground.

Before it, I have never understood why I could use 'there is one, there are two, there are three, etc,?

Just because of your explanation I can see that numbers don't make something specific. They only tell you the number of books that exist on the shelf, in this case. Nothing else.

'Everybody' is not indefinite it refers to a whole group, so it becomes definite.

Everybody is in class today. A definite group of students. That's why I can't use it with existential 'there'.

I am right, aren't I?

Wish I was there, in one of your classes. I really do. Then I won't be befuddled at all.

Have I use 'surmise' and 'befuddled' properly?

(remember you taught me both of them)

TS

CalifJim · Answer

Thinking SpainI can see that numbers don't make something specific. They only tell you the number of books that exist on the shelf, in this case. Nothing else.

Exactly.

Thinking SpainEverybody is in class today. A definite group of students. That's why I can't use it with existential 'there'.
I am right, aren't I?

Yes. This is correct.

Thinking SpainWish I were there, in one of your classes. I really do. Then I wouldn't be befuddled at all.

was is also OK, however. Correct use of befuddled.

Thinking SpainI surmise that I don't have any more doubts about it.

Oops.

You can't surmise anything about yourself. You have privileged access to your own mind!To surmise is to conclude (that a fact is true) by making an educated guess. You don't need to guess about yourself. If you don't have any more doubts, then you know you don't have any more doubts. Does that help?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surmise?show=1&t=1312834497

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

CalifJimThe existential 'there is' construction properly takes only indefinite expressions.

English grammar isn't that simple. I don't really disagree with you, Jim, but this is also possible, right?

We have a few problems. First of all, there's the task of finding out where he lives.

CB

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi CalifJim,

CalifJimDoes that help?

It certainly does.

Houston, I don't have any more problems about this matter.

Mission accomplished, thanks to your help.

TS

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