0
Olgaa Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
There is
Could you please explain the phrase 'i am the best there is' from grammatical point of view? Why is 'there is' here and why at the end?
Top answer
I am the best (that) there is. ' (A cat exists in my hat). This is called the ' existential-there '.
- I am the best (that) there is.
- ' (A cat exists in my hat).
- This is called the ' existential-there '.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
I am the best (that) there is. There is = exists, as in 'There is a cat in my hat.' (A cat exists in my hat). This is called the 'existential-there'.
00
Sure. It means "I am the best that exists".
If something IS, then it exists. It's a special case meaning of IS when used without context.
If you have context, e.g. "Is that right?" "Yes it IS", then "it IS" means "that IS right", but without any context, IS just means EXISTS, as opposed to ISN'T, which (without any context) means DOESN'T EXIST.
It's the same idea as "I t
If something IS, then it exists. It's a special case meaning of IS when used without context.
If you have context, e.g. "Is that right?" "Yes it IS", then "it IS" means "that IS right", but without any context, IS just means EXISTS, as opposed to ISN'T, which (without any context) means DOESN'T EXIST.
It's the same idea as "I t
0
Related Questions