there followed by the

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

Moderator: Alan

Post Reply
User avatar
Fido
Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun May 16, 2004 2:43 am

there followed by the

Post by Fido »

There is to introduce a new piece of information which is in most cases, I believe, followed by the indefinite article. So I suppose this sentence is wrong, no?

There is the town hall on the left corner and a gym on the right corner.

Thank you
User avatar
Alan
Teacher/Moderator
Teacher/Moderator
Posts: 15204
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Japan

Post by Alan »

No, it's actually quite possible - if comparatively rare - to have 'there is/are' followed by a definite noun phrase. It tends to occur, however, in just this type of situation, where reference is to some geographical or topographical feature.
User avatar
Fido
Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun May 16, 2004 2:43 am

Post by Fido »

Thanks a lot!

1) There once lived in Greece a very wise man.
2) There stands a church on the hill.
3) There began a long and ~ battle.
4)* There ended a long and ~ battle.

The last sentence is, I`m told, wrong. Why?

5) There ends the street. Is this also wrong?
User avatar
Alan
Teacher/Moderator
Teacher/Moderator
Posts: 15204
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Japan

Post by Alan »

#4 is perfectly well-formed, if a little literary.
#5 is so unidiomatic as to be effectively unacceptable on account of the combination of preposed adverbial (there) and verb 'end' with a spatial reference.

The street ends there.

or even

There ends the story.


would, on the other hand, be fine.
Post Reply