oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

PAGE 57
50 The empty subjects there and it
There is no inversion with most other kinds of verbs.
Outside the house two women were talking.
NOT Outside the house were talking two women.
NOTE For There was a furniture van outside the house, • 50.
b
We can use here and there in front position to draw attention to something in the
situation.
(airport announcement) Here is an announcement for passengers on flight
TW513 to Miami.
(sports commentator) And there goes Williams! Into the lead!
In this pattern we can use be, come or go in the present simple. There is inversion
of the subject and verb. The noun phrase, the new information, goes at the end.
Here is an announcement. NOT Here-an announcement is.
But when the subject is a pronoun, there is no inversion.
And there goes Williams'. There he goes, look!
Where are my keys? Oh, here they are.
4 Overview: inversion
a
b
Subject-verb inversion
After an adverbial of place in front position, • 49(3)
On the doorstep stood an old man. Here is the news.
After direct speech, • 265(4)
Are you ready?' Jane asked/asked Jane.
Subject-auxiliary inversion
In questions, • 23
What did the man want? Have you heard the news?
In additions with so and neither/nor, • 43(1)
I saw the man and so did Paul.
After a negative phrase in front position, • 17(6c)
In no circumstances should you sign the form.
In some conditional clauses, • 258
Had you signed the form, you would have lost all your rights.
50 The empty subjects there and it
1 The use of there
The verb be does not usually have a subject with a/an or some. A sentence like A
Chinese restaurant is round the corner is possible but unusual. A phrase with a/an
is usually new information, and so it comes later in the sentence.
Where can we eat? ~ There's a Chinese restaurant round the corner.
We put therein the subject position so that a Chinese restaurant can come after the
verb. There + be expresses the idea that something exists.