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Wuzzzup Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
"There was your bag on the desk." Why is it wrong?
"There was your bag on the desk."
should be,
"Your bag was on the desk".
I know that the first sentence is wrong, but I am wondering the exact grammatical reasoning why?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
should be,
"Your bag was on the desk".
I know that the first sentence is wrong, but I am wondering the exact grammatical reasoning why?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Top answer
Hi, I wouldn't say it is wrong. I'd just say it sounds awkward and uncommon in most contexts. Clive
- Hi, I wouldn't say it is wrong.
- I'd just say it sounds awkward and uncommon in most contexts.
- Clive
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5 Answers
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Hi,
I wouldn't say it is wrong. I'd just say it sounds awkward and uncommon in most contexts.
Clive
I wouldn't say it is wrong. I'd just say it sounds awkward and uncommon in most contexts.
Clive
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Thanks so much for responding to my first post!
Actually, I asked another one of my friend's, and this was his answer.
"The construction "there was" is used only with indefinite subjects: the kind that are preceded by "a" instead of "the". So you can say "There was a bag on the desk", but not "There was the bag on the desk". Saying "your" makes the noun definite, so you can't
Actually, I asked another one of my friend's, and this was his answer.
"The construction "there was" is used only with indefinite subjects: the kind that are preceded by "a" instead of "the". So you can say "There was a bag on the desk", but not "There was the bag on the desk". Saying "your" makes the noun definite, so you can't
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Hi,
Actually, I asked another one of my friend's, and this was his answer.
"The construction "there was" is used only with indefinite subjects: the kind that are preceded by "a" instead of "the". So you can say "There was a bag on the desk", but not "There was the bag on the desk". Saying "your" makes the noun definite, so you can't use the "there was" constructi
Actually, I asked another one of my friend's, and this was his answer.
"The construction "there was" is used only with indefinite subjects: the kind that are preceded by "a" instead of "the". So you can say "There was a bag on the desk", but not "There was the bag on the desk". Saying "your" makes the noun definite, so you can't use the "there was" constructi
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wuzzzup"The construction "there was" is used only with indefinite subjects: the kind that are preceded by "a" instead of "the". So you can say "There was a bag on the desk", but not "There was the bag on the desk". Saying "your" makes the noun definite, so you can't use the "there was" construction."Mostly true for "expletive there", but as Clive poi
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Wow! That is a good point!!! Thanks! I explained that to my student, and I really hope she got it!
I will email my friend directly about it too.
I will email my friend directly about it too.
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