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Rika-chi Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
There is a/the...
Hello!
I have a question about existential sentences ("there"sentences).
The following sentences are from a certain thesis:
It is generally claimed that the notional subject of exitential sentences must be indefinite:
a. There is a book on the table.
b.*There is the book on the table.
But we can't always say that the definite NPs are not allowed to occur in the portion of the notional subject of existential sentences:
c. There was the shadow of a big dog in the dark.
d. There's the possibility that John will come in time.
These NPs (c,d) contain the postposed modifiers. In each case, as a result of restriction by modifiers, the referent becomes identifiable.
However, there are some exceptions I found in my book:
e.*There's the book of linguistics on the desk.
f.*There's the possibility for John to go abroad.
Why are these sentences incorrect?
I have a question about existential sentences ("there"sentences).
The following sentences are from a certain thesis:
It is generally claimed that the notional subject of exitential sentences must be indefinite:
a. There is a book on the table.
b.*There is the book on the table.
But we can't always say that the definite NPs are not allowed to occur in the portion of the notional subject of existential sentences:
c. There was the shadow of a big dog in the dark.
d. There's the possibility that John will come in time.
These NPs (c,d) contain the postposed modifiers. In each case, as a result of restriction by modifiers, the referent becomes identifiable.
However, there are some exceptions I found in my book:
e.*There's the book of linguistics on the desk.
f.*There's the possibility for John to go abroad.
Why are these sentences incorrect?
Top answer
Welcome to the forums, rika-chi. *There's the book of linguistics on the desk. *There's the possibility for John to go abroad.
- Welcome to the forums, rika-chi.
- *There's the book of linguistics on the desk.
- *There's the possibility for John to go abroad.
- I'm not remotely qualified to discuss the grammar of the situation with you but I have to say I don't see anything wrong with the two sentences in question.
- Although, they would probably (but not necessarily) be written and said without the contractions.
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3 Answers
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Welcome to the forums, rika-chi.
rika-chi e.*There's the book of linguistics on the desk.I'm not remotely qualified to discuss the grammar of the situation with you but I have to say I don't see anything wrong with the two sentences in question. Although, they would probably (but not necessarily) be writte
f.*There's the possibility for John to go abroad.
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Hi, and welcome.
I would say such rule is not a strict rule, but just a rule of thumb applies to most common contexts, not all of them.
What's on the table? - There's the book (you know what book we are talking about, a specific one).
What's all this noise? Look out the window... - Oh, there's the dog chasing that homeless guy again.
To me, existential "there" answers
I would say such rule is not a strict rule, but just a rule of thumb applies to most common contexts, not all of them.
What's on the table? - There's the book (you know what book we are talking about, a specific one).
What's all this noise? Look out the window... - Oh, there's the dog chasing that homeless guy again.
To me, existential "there" answers
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Hi Kooyeen
You're always so humble. You write in a humorous way. I wish I could write like you.
You're always so humble. You write in a humorous way. I wish I could write like you.
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