If "there" is not the real subject, then, what is? can I say that "a table" is the complement of There? I', really confuse about this.
2007-07-10 01:56:54 · 7 answers · asked by notsniw 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
the table is the subject in the sentence - It is the thing that you are refering to.
"There is" in this sentence is stating a fact.
2007-07-10 02:04:32 · answer #1 · answered by MichM 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The subject in that sentence is table. You can exchange "there is" with "exists" (and change the word order): A table exists in the room.
As such, "there is" represents the predicate of the sentence. I believe it's called something like "verb place holder"... or erm... the meaning is that :P Suffice to say, that "there is" must be considered a single verb, in this case.
2007-07-10 02:06:02 · answer #2 · answered by Vera 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way I learned it, "table" is the real subject. In school, we rewrote the sentence "A table is there in the room", so "there" is an adverb modifying "is", as is the adverbial phrase "in the room."
2007-07-10 09:20:30 · answer #3 · answered by pasdeclef 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Table is the subject. I believe "there" is used in your sentence as an adverb describing where.
2007-07-10 02:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"There" is an adverb.
The sentence is an inverted form of saying
"The table is there in the room."
"Table" is the subject.
"Is" is the verb.
"There" and "in the room" both describe
where the "table is."
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Other examples:
* "There you are."
is like saying:
"You are there."
"You" is the subject.
"Are" is the verb.
"There" is an adverb (describing "where" you are).
* "Where am I?"
is like asking
"I am where?"
"I" is the subject.
"Am" is the verb.
"Where" is an adverb.
* "How/When/Why was it done?"
is like saying
"It was done how/when/why?"
"It" is the subject.
"Was done" is the verb.
"How/When/Why" is an adverb, etc.
2007-07-10 02:18:58 · answer #5 · answered by Nghiem E 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In formal English, "There is" is called a placeholder or expletive.
"There is" is not the subject, but it is part of the noun phrase (the part of the sentence that includes the noun/subject and all of its modifiers- adjectives, pronouns, etc).
2007-07-10 03:11:37 · answer #6 · answered by kvw_2006 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, that puzzles even me. I don't even know why I say there in some of my sentences. Mostly it's just out of instinct.
2007-07-10 02:02:53 · answer #7 · answered by Demon 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋