上海外国语大学：《英语专业语法》Lecture 17 Existential Sentence

Lecture 17: Existential sentence Aims 1. Structural properties of existential sentences 2. non-finite existential clauses Key words: existential sentence存在句, introductory( there)引导词, notional subject实意主语 1 The existential sentence is a special type of sentence structure that denotes the existence of something. The communicative function of an existential sentence is to elicit a new topic, which, as focus of information, is generally expressed by the notional subject" coming after the verb phrase

Lecture 17: Existential Sentence ◼ Aims: ◼ 1. Structural properties of existential sentences ◼ 2. non-finite existential clauses ◼ Key words: ◼ existential sentence 存在句, introductory (there) 引导词, notional subject 实意主语 ◼ ◼ The existential sentence is a special type of sentence structure that denotes the existence of something. The communicative function of an existential sentence is to elicit a new topic, which, as focus of information, is generally expressed by the “notional subject” coming after the verb phrase

a 24.1 Structural properties of existential sentences a The existential sentence generally begins with an unstressed there as formal subject followed by a form of the verb be or other verb that is related to the notion of existence. Following the verb is a noun phrase which is known as the notional or real subject as distinguished from the formal subject, and the notional subject is usually followed by a locative, or at times by a temporal adverbial Thus, the general pattern of an existential sentence is as follows a There t be +np+ locative /temporal adverbial

◼ 24.1 Structural properties of existential sentences ◼ The existential sentence generally begins with an unstressed there as formal subject followed by a form of the verb be or other verb that is related to the notion of existence. Following the verb is a noun phrase, which is known as the “notional” or “real” subject as distinguished from the formal subject, and the notional subject is usually followed by a locative, or at times by a temporal adverbial. Thus, the general pattern of an existential sentence is as follows: ◼ There + be + NP + locative / temporal adverbial

24.1.1 Introductory there Introductory there functions as formal subject not only in statements but also in questions, where the formal subject and operator are inverted In informal style, introductory there often determines subject-verb concord in an existential sentence, that is, the form of the verb is not determined by the number of the following noun phrase but by the non-plural form of the introductory word a Introductory there is different from a fronted adverb there in that it is unstressed and meaningless, while the initial adverb there is stressed and acts as an adverbial of place

◼ 24.1.1 Introductory there ◼ Introductory there functions as formal subject not only in statements but also in questions, where the formal subject and operator are inverted. ◼ In informal style, introductory there often determines subject-verb concord in an existential sentence, that is, the form of the verb is not determined by the number of the following noun phrase but by the non-plural form of the introductory word. ◼ Introductory there is different from a fronted adverb there in that it is unstressed and meaningless, while the initial adverb there is stressed and acts as an adverbial of place

24.1.2 Notional subject The notional subject, which is actually the focus of information, is usually a noun phrase with indefinite specific reference. The determiners commonly occurring in this kind of noun phrase include the indefinite article the zero article. and other indefinite determiners such as some, any, no, several, many, much, more,(a) few,(a)little, less, another, a lot of plenty of, a number of, enough, as well as the cardinal numerals a The notional subject can also be realized by some - any-,no compounds, such as something, nothing, anyone, etc a Just as the notional subject of existential sentence is commonly an indefinite noun phrase so any statement with an indefinite noun phrase as subject and a verb phrase containing the verb be can generally be transformed into an existential sentence e.g. Plenty of people are getting promotion There are plenty of people getting promotion

◼ 24.1.2 Notional subject ◼ The notional subject, which is actually the focus of information, is usually a noun phrase with indefinite specific reference. The determiners commonly occurring in this kind of noun phrase include the indefinite article, the zero article, and other indefinite determiners such as some, any, no, several, many, much, more, (a) few, (a) little, less, another, a lot of, plenty of, a number of, enough, as well as the cardinal numerals. ◼ The notional subject can also be realized by some-, any-, no￾compounds, such as something, nothing, anyone, etc. ◼ Just as the notional subject of existential sentence is commonly an indefinite noun phrase, so any statement with an indefinite noun phrase as subject and a verb phrase containing the verb be can generally be transformed into an existential sentence. ◼ e.g.: Plenty of people are getting promotion. ◼ = There are plenty of people getting promotion

241.3 Predicator in existential sentence a The predicator or predicate verb of an existential sentence is commonly a form of the verb be finite or non-finite, simple or been?"or semi-auxiliary + be'elso be realized by modal be/ have perfective. The predicator may e.g. There can be very little doubt about his guilt There can t have been much traffic so late at night There appears to be no doubt about it Apart from the verb be, there are at least three classes of semantically-related verbs that can act as predicator in an existentia sentence. These include verbs of existence and position, such as exist, live, stand, lie; verbs of motion, such as come, go, walk, and verbs of emergence or development, such as appear, arise, emerge, develop happen, occur, etc e.g. There arose in his imagination visions of a world empire Long, long ago, there lived six blind men in India a Behind the village, there flows/lies a murmuring stream

◼ 24.1.3 Predicator in existential sentence ◼ The predicator or predicate verb of an existential sentence is commonly a form of the verb be, finite or non-finite, simple or perfective. The predicator may also be realized by “modal + be / have been” or “semi-auxiliary + be”. ◼ e.g.: There can be very little doubt about his guilt. ◼ There can’t have been much traffic so late at night. ◼ There appears to be no doubt about it. ◼ Apart from the verb be, there are at least three classes of semantically-related verbs that can act as predicator in an existential sentence. These include verbs of existence and position, such as exist, live, stand, lie; verbs of motion, such as come, go, walk; and verbs of emergence or development, such as appear, arise, emerge, develop, happen, occur, etc. ◼ e.g.: There arose in his imagination visions of a world empire. ◼ Long, long ago, there lived six blind men in India. ◼ Behind the village, there flows / lies a murmuring stream

24.2 Non-finite existential clauses Anon -finite existential clause is one whose predicator is a non-finite verb phrase. There are two types of non-finite existential clauses There to be/ have been NP+ locative /temporal adverbial a There being +np+ locative/ temporal adverbial These forms can be used

◼ 24.2 Non-finite existential clauses ◼ A non-finite existential clause is one whose predicator is a non-finite verb phrase. There are two types of non-finite existential clauses: ◼ There to be / have been + NP + locative / temporal adverbial ◼ There being + NP + locative / temporal adverbial ◼ These forms can be used:

24. 2.1 As prepositional complementation Both forms can be used as prepositional complementation. If the preposition is for it usually takes the there to be form as complementation With other prepositions, the complementation usually takes the there being form a e.g. They planned for there to be another meeting a John was relying on there being another opportunity

◼ 24.2.1 As prepositional complementation ◼ Both forms can be used as prepositional complementation. If the preposition is for, it usually takes the “there to be” form as complementation. With other prepositions, the complementation usually takes the “there being” form. ◼ e.g.: They planned for there to be another meeting. ◼ John was relying on there being another opportunity

24.2.2 As object This applies more often than not to the there to be form. There are only a limited number of verbs that can take a there to be form as object. These verbs include expect, mean, intend, want, like, prefer, hate, etc a e.g. Members like there to be plenty of choice

◼ 24.2.2 As object ◼ This applies more often than not to the “there to be” form. There are only a limited number of verbs that can take a “there to be” form as object. These verbs include expect, mean, intend, want, like, prefer, hate, etc. ◼ e.g.: Members like there to be plenty of choice

24.23 As subject and adverbial As subject, the there being form is commonly used e.g. There being a bus stop so near the house is a great advantage a when the there to be form is used as subject it is usually introduced by for a e.g. It was unusual for there to be so few people in the streets

◼ 24.2.3 As subject and adverbial ◼ As subject, the “there being” form is commonly used. ◼ e.g.: There being a bus stop so near the house is a great advantage. ◼ When the “there to be” form is used as subject, it is usually introduced by for. ◼ e.g.: It was unusual for there to be so few people in the streets

“ there be句型的几个变异结构 口英语存在句的表现形式很多,但要数" there be."句型 最引人注目。 " there be."句型是存在句的常用基本结构, there在句 中处于主语位置,起形式主语的作用,真正的主语是 随后的名词词组。其谓语动词通常是be的各种时、体 等形式。如: There is ice on the lake.湖上有冰 a There were three students in the classroom then y 时教室有三个学生。 There has never been anybody like you.从来还没有 像你这样的人 There will! be snow on high ground在高地上将会有雪

“there be...”句型的几个变异结构 ◼ 英语存在句的表现形式很多，但要数"there be..."句型 最引人注目。 ◼ "there be..."句型是存在句的常用基本结构，there在句 中处于主语位置，起形式主语的作用，真正的主语是 随后的名词词组。其谓语动词通常是be的各种时、体 等形式。如： ◼ There is ice on the lake. 湖上有冰。 ◼ There were three students in the classroom then. 当 时教室有三个学生。 ◼ There has never been anybody like you. 从来还没有 像你这样的人。 ◼ There will be snow on high ground.在高地上将会有雪