一、概說

英語中的there be結構主要表示某處存在有某物，所以通常被稱為存在句。其中的there為引導詞，無詞義，be為謂語動詞，there be后面的名詞為句子主語。

二、there be結構的謂語形式

1. 主謂一致問題

:若只有一個主語，謂語的數則取決于該主語的數；若有幾個主語并列，則通常是與靠近的主語保持一致：

There is a man at the door. 門口有個人。

There are some girls in the room. 房間里有幾個女孩。

There is a pen and some books on the desk. 桌上有一支鋼筆和一些書。

2. 時態問題

there be結構的時態由其中的謂語動詞be來體現，它可以有一般現在時、一般將來時、一般過去時、現在完成時以及過去完成時等多種時態形式：

There is going to be [will be] an English film tonight. 今晚將有一場英語電影。

There was a lot to be done. 有很多事要做。

There were some children swimming in the river. 有些小孩在河里游泳。

There have been many such accidents. 已發生了好幾起那樣的事故。

There had been two sea fights between them. 他們之間發生了兩場海戰。

3. 與情態動詞連用

there be結構有時可以與情態動詞連用：

There may be a storm tomorrow. 明天可能有風暴。

There used to be a hospital here. 原來這里有家醫院。

He felt there must be something wrong. 他感到準有什么問題。

There might still be hope. 可能還有希望。

There ought to be a comma here. 這兒應有一個逗號。

4. 動詞be換成其他動詞

有時可將there be中的動詞be 換為 live, remain, seem, appear, exist, stand, lie, come等：

Once upon a time there lived a man known by the name of Joe Beef. 從前有個人名叫喬·比夫。

There seems [appears] something the matter with her. 她好像是出了什么事似的。

There existed different opinions on this problem. 對這個問題曾有不同看法。

There remained just twenty-eight pounds. 只剩28英鎊了。

At the top of the hill there stands an old temple. 在小山頂上有一座古廟。

5. 與其他動詞搭配使用

there be結構有時可與其他動詞搭配使用，構成一種復合謂語：

There seemed to be nobody about, so I went in. 附近似乎沒有人，因此我就走了進去。

There happened to be a man walking by. 恰好有一個人從旁經過。

三、there be結構的非謂語形式

1. 基本結構

there be結構的非謂語形式有兩種基本結構，即there being和there to be。

2. there being結構

該結構的主要用法有：

(1) 用作狀語：

There being nothing else to do, we went home. 由于沒什么其他的事要干，所以我們就回家了。

There having been no rain, the ground was dry. 由于沒有下雨，所以地面很干。

【注】有時可與狀語從句轉換：

There being no further business (=As there was no further business), I declared the meetingclosed. 由于沒有別的事了，我宣布閉會。

(2) 用作介詞賓語：

There is now some hope of there being a settlement of the dispute. 現在有點希望可以解決這次爭端。

2. There to be 結構

該結構的主要用法有：

(1) 用作動詞賓語：該結構可用作某些動詞(如like, prefer, hate, want, mean, intend, expect, consider 等)的賓語：

I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding. 我可不希望有任何誤解。

Students hate there to be too much homework. 學生討厭做太多的家庭作業。

We expect there to be more discussion about this. 我們期望能對此展開更多的討論。

【注】在let there be結構中，動詞be不帶to：

Don’t let there be any noise. 不允許有任何吵鬧。

Let there be no mistake about it. 這事不要出錯。

(2) 用作介詞for的賓語：

They asked for there to be another meeting. 他們要求再開一次會議。

【注】用作介詞賓語一般用there being，但用作介詞for的賓語時，只能用there to be。比較：

They planned on there being another meeting. 他們打算再開一次會議。

They planned for there to be another meeting. 他們打算再開一次會議。