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Teo Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
There is 'the' menu on the wall.
1. There is a book on the desk. (acceptable)
2. There is a menu on the wall. (acceptable)
3. There is the book on the desk. (not acceptable)
4. There is the menu on the wall.
#3 is not acceptable, but #4 seems acceptable. Why?
Thank you very much for your help.
2. There is a menu on the wall. (acceptable)
3. There is the book on the desk. (not acceptable)
4. There is the menu on the wall.
#3 is not acceptable, but #4 seems acceptable. Why?
Thank you very much for your help.
Top answer
Because there's one menu per restaurant, and even if there are many copies they all tell the same thing, propose the same dishes. And each book tells a different story. Well, more or less
- Because there's one menu per restaurant, and even if there are many copies they all tell the same thing, propose the same dishes.
- And each book tells a different story.
- Well, more or less
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10 Answers
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Because there's onemenu per restaurant, and even if there are many copies they all tell the same thing, propose the same dishes. And each book tells a different story. Well, more or less
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Existential "there" takes "a".
Demonstrative "there" can take "the" or "a".
All four are acceptable. "There is" is quite commonly "There's", so I'll use that below. Underline shows that in speaking, extra stress would be used, and the speaker might even physically point to the object in question.
There's a book on the desk. (Existential: A book exists; it is lo
Demonstrative "there" can take "the" or "a".
All four are acceptable. "There is" is quite commonly "There's", so I'll use that below. Underline shows that in speaking, extra stress would be used, and the speaker might even physically point to the object in question.
There's a book on the desk. (Existential: A book exists; it is lo
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A: Have we any loose cash in the house?
B: Well, there's the money in the box over there.
If there's is demonstrative, why bother to use the phrase over there. If there's is existential
B: Well, there's the money in the box over there.
If there's is demonstrative, why bother to use the phrase over there. If there's is existential
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The more usual exchange is:
A - Do we have any cash in the house?
B - Well, there's some money in the box over there. (Existential "there", because the question itself is asking about the existence of something.)
But there is an interpretation in which you can have "existential 'there'" with "the". It's used to point out the existence of a particular example of so
A - Do we have any cash in the house?
B - Well, there's some money in the box over there. (Existential "there", because the question itself is asking about the existence of something.)
But there is an interpretation in which you can have "existential 'there'" with "the". It's used to point out the existence of a particular example of so
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Or: "There's the money in the box" (you know which box I'm talking about)
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Teo
A: Have we any loose cash in the house?
B: Well, there's the money in the box over there.
If there's is demonstrative, why bother to use the phrase over there. If there's is
00
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CalifJimThe more usual exchange is:If B thinks that A is familiar with the money in the box over there but may have tempora
A - Do we have any cash in the house?
B - Well, there's some money in the box over there. (Existential "there", because the question itself is asking about the existence of something.)
CJ
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If B thinks that A is familiar with the money in the box over there but may have temporarily forgotten it, the use of an indefinite determiner would lose the flavor of reminders.
Yes. That's true. And the use of the definite would make it an example of a less usual (but nevertheless possible) exchange.
CJ
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