there be结构在英语里是一种常见的特殊句子结构。它以引词there(由副词there变来)开首,后常接动词be的各种形式,再后才是主语,主语之后又常有表地点和时间的状语。它像是一种倒装句,但又非倒装句,因为这种“倒装”已成为一种自然的词序。这种结构中的there本身无词义,其后的动词be具有“存在”之意,所以是一实义动词。
1. 基本用例:
There is a garden behind the house.
房子后面有一座花园。
There is nothing but clothing in this cupboard. 这个柜子里只有衣服。
There is a telephone box on the comer. 在拐弯处有一个电话间。
If there is any problem, let me know. 如果有什么问题可以通知我。
There is only one person I could approach. 只有一个人我可以去找。
There is little difference between the two words. 这两个字没有什么差别。
注意下面一句:
There was a dog there. 那里有一条狗。
There is a bus-stop just there. 那里就有公共汽车站。
句中第一个there是引词,无词义;第二个there是副词,有词义。
2. there be结构表“存在”,have表“所有”,试比较:
There are several oak trees in the garden. 花园里有好几株橡树。(主语是oak trees)
They have several oak trees in the garden. 他们在花园里种有好几株橡树。(主语是they)
There's a telephone in every room. 每一个房间都有一部电话。(强调客观存在)
Every room has a telephone. 每一个房间有电话。(强调电话是每个房间的一固有部分)
3. 句首的there如重读,则非引词,而是副词,试比较:
There is the book 1 want. 那儿就是我所要的书。(there是副词,有词义)
There are some books 1 want. 有一些我所要的书。(there是引词,无词义)
4. 在there be结构中,be之后加上not或no, 即变成否定句,如:
There is no great difficulty. 没有大的困难。
There is no need to worry. 没有必要发愁。
There is not much doubt about his guilt. 对他的罪行没有多少怀疑。
There is not much life in a small country village. 一座小村庄没有多少生气。
5. 变为疑问句时,须把be移至there之前,如:
Are there any children in the room? 房间里有小孩吗?
Are there any boys in your group? 你们小组中有男生吗?
Is there anything for me to do? 有什么事需要我做?
Is there a doctor available? 能请到医生吗?
6. there be结构中的动词be与主语的数必须一致,但主语如是一系列事物,第一个事物为单形可数名词,谓语动词则可用单数形式,如:
There is a textbook, a dictionary and some notebooks on the desk. 桌上有一本教科书、一本字典和几本笔记。
有时说话人先说出了there is(was),然后才想到要用复形名词,如:
There's some things I can't resist. 有些事物我是不抗拒的。
There's hundreds of people on the waiting list. 登记排队的人有好几百。
7. 强调主语时,亦可将主语移至句首,如:
Men there are yet living who have seen him. 见过他的人有的还活着哩。
重点单词
guilt
n. 罪行,内疚
approach
n. 接近; 途径,方法 v. 靠近,接近,动手处理
resist
v. 抵抗,反抗,抵制,忍住 n. 防蚀涂层
available
adj. 可用的,可得到的,有用的,有效的
oak
n. 橡树,橡木
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