There is somebody/something doing something.

Question

Hi,Is it a regular sentence, when you describe somebody/something not very close to you doing something ? For example:There is a car coming.There is a girl singing.There is a fire burning.There are boys skating.Thank you for your opinions.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Those are all correct sentences.

Are you asking about context?
In what context would you want to say eg There are boys skating. ?
Clive

Stephenlearner · Answer

Thank you for your reply.

Here is a setting for using this kind of sentence. Can you correct it if there is anything wrong?

(My son and I are walking on a road in the apartment complext where we live. Suddenly we hear a beep!)
A: There is a car coming behind us. Let's come to the side.
B: The car has overtaken us.
(Screech!)
A: The car stopped. Look! What color is it?
...

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Yes, that kind of context is OK.

Clive

Stephenlearner · Answer

Thank you.

Should I say "the car stopped" or "the car has stopped"? Which is better?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Look! The car has stopped.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

stephenlearnerIs it a regular sentence, when you describe somebody/something not very close to you doing something ?

You emphasized 'not very close to you', as if this usage of 'there' referred to space. It doesn't. It refers to existence. So the distance is not relevant. You can even say, "There is a voice talking to me in my head", which is quite close to you indeed!

In almost every case you would say where these things are at the end of the sentence, because the initial "There" does not tell the place.

There is a girl singing in the auditorium.
There is a fire burning in the kitchen.
There are boys skating near the school.

One word that indicates place is "there" - not very close to you - and you can add that as well.

There is a girl singing there.
There is a fire burning there.
There are boys skating there.

In every one of the three examples above, the first "there" is existential, and the last "there" is locational.

CJ

Stephenlearner · Answer

Thank you Clive for your help.
Thank you Jim for your detailed explanation.

Your expertise is highly appreciated.

There is somebody/something doing something.

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