A11.3 Techniques for redesigning sentences In addition to the passive and subject/verb inversion, as exemplified above, there are
a number of constructions used to satisfy these three principles; they are sometimes
called ‘movement rules’.
‘Existential’ there In order to avoid having an indefinite ‘subject’ in the ‘given’ position, a sentence start
ing with there can be used:
There is a book on the table. This places the whole of the noun phrase a book on the table in the position for new
information. It would sound strange to say A book is on the table, though sometimes
descriptions do have indefinite noun phrases in initial position:
A battered-looking wooden bedside table and a cheap chair of black-painted metal and faded red plastic comprise the room’s remaining furniture. We need to distinguish this use of there from its use as an adverb of place. Both
uses are possible in one sentence, as in this example:
There were about 2,000 people there.
R E D E S I G N I N G S E N T E N C E S
67
The first, existential, there could not be stressed; the second could be, and would have
to be pronounced a strong form /ðeә/. However, not every case of initial there is
existential. It can also be the result of subject/verb inversion:
There is your man. (+ AVS, cf. Your man is there.)
See A8 for information about subject/verb agreement with existential there.
