there + verb

Question

I can't understand when to use there + verb. OALD says that "there used to show that something exists or happens". I do understand the first case (with exists, with to be), but I don't the second. I wonder if someone can help me some extra explanation and examples of using there + verb. I guess that "there" is a subject in case when there isn't some other subjects? Thank you in advance!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hey tikskit,

tikskitI can't understand when to use there + verb. OALD says that "there used to show that something exists or happens". I do understand the first case (with exists, with to be), but I don't the second. I wonder if someone can help me some extra explanation and examples of using there + verb.

I am not quit sure what the question is about on this one. Can you please explain or give me an example?

tikskitI guess that "there" is a subject in case when there isn't some other subjects? Thank you in advance!

It is very very rare if you can find a situation where there is the subject (if it even exists). There is most likely going to be an adverb or object. (except in the sentence I just wrote. It is the subject because I highlighted as a word

)

Tikskit · Answer

Well, this is the example:
Just before tea-time there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell.

This is from the Hobbit. During reading I thought that while I do understand the meaning, I do not understand how and in which cases to use this collocation

Anonymous · Answer

tikskitJust before tea-time, there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell.

Well, let me try to explain this sentence; and hopefully, I will have answered your question. In the sentence:

tikskit there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell.

Some subjects can be harder to find. Foremost among these hard-to-find subjects is the subject that has the nerve to come after the verb (which the sentence above does). These sentence structures are called inverted word order, and it can make it difficult to find the true subject. However, wherever the subject is, it still must agree in number with its verb.

Okay, let's breakdown the sentence.
Subject= a tremendous ring (notice how there is not the subject even though it precedes the verb)
Verb= came

Here are some more examples:

There are still several agitators in the audience.
Subject= several agitators
Verb=are (the subject is plural so the verb is plural)

The words there or here at the beginning of a sentence often signal inverted word order and almost always never the subject.

Also, here's another example without using there:

On the top of the hill are two Elvis impersonators.
Subject:Elvis impersonators
Verb: are

If you have difficulty finding the subject, try rephrasing the sentence:
Two Elvis impersonators are on the top of the hill.

There are still several agitators in the audience=Several agitators are still there in the audience.

Just before tea-time, there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell= Just before tea-time, a tremendous ring came (there) on the front-door bell.

I hope this helps, and more important, that this is what you were confused about.

Tikskit · Answer

I think you explained exactly that what I need! It was definitely interested to read.
By the way, I understood (but a bit late) that subject in my example is ring (or tremendous ring). But I didn't know about inverted word order. Now I think I know how to build sentences of this construction!

Thank you!

CalifJim · Answer

tikskitthere used to show that something exists or happens

Exists: There is a bowl of sugar on the table.
Happens: There is a concert at Sokorsky Hall tomorrow night.

1. there is the subject for purposes of subject-verb inversion to form questions.

There is a hole in the bucket. Is there a hole in the bucket?

2. The noun phrase after the verb is the subject for purposes of subject-verb agreement.

There is a tree near our house. There are several trees near our house.
_____________________

By inverting subject and verb and adding 'there' to

Just before tea-time a tremendous ring came on the front-door bell

you can create

Just before tea-time there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell.

CJ

Tikskit · Answer

Happens: There is a concert at Sokorsky Hall tomorrow night.

I think this is Exists too, isn't it?

This could be Happens:

There begins a concert at Sokorsky Hall tomorrow night.

Is it correct?

CalifJim · Answer

tikskitI think this is Exists too, isn't it?

Well, it doesn't exist yet at the time this is said. It is going to exist tomorrow. Normal we speak of events like concerts as 'happening', not as 'existing', though as you say, there is a connection.

tikskitThere begins a concert at Sokorsky Hall tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, you have chosen a verb (begin) that cannot be used with there-insertion, so this sentence is not grammatical.

CJ

Tikskit · Answer

Hm, I didn't understand which verbs can be used with there and which cannot. I'm going to google to find more about inverted word order.
Thank you!

CalifJim · Answer

tikskitHm, I didn't understand which verbs can be used with there and which cannot. I'm going to google to find more about inverted word order.Thank you!

Look up 'locative inversion' and 'there insertion'. Those might help.

CJ

Tikskit · Answer

Thank you! I'll try!

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