Grade 10 Grammar Lesson 49 There and it as subjects
- Why do we use ‘there’ as subjects?
Is ‘there+ be’ followed by definite word or indefinite words?
How does the verb agree with the subject ‘there’?
- We use there as subject followed by the verb be to introduce a person or thing to say this person or thing exists, happens, or is to be found in a particular place.
- We also use this pattern to ask about the existence or presence of people and things.
- There + be is usually followed by indefinite words like a/an; any/some/no+ one/body/thing etc rather than definite words like the, this, my, yours, a name etc.
- Note that if the noun after be is singular, the verb is singular; if the noun is plural, the verb is plural; if the noun consists of a list, the verb is decided by the first noun in the list.
- We use it instead of a that- clause, wh- clause, to- infinitive clause, or if- clause as the subject. The pattern is: It + be + adjective/noun + clause.
- We can also use a verb other than be in the pattern: It + verb + (object) + clause. Verbs that fit in this pattern include amaze, annoy, bother, concern, frighten, please, surprise, turn out, appear, emerge, follo, happen, seem, worry.
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