一、 概說
所謂存在句，就是指表示某處存在有某人或某物的一類句型，這類句型的典型結構是there be…這類表達，所以存在句在通常情況下指的就是there be句型。如：
There is a garden at the back of the house. 房子背後有一座花園。
There are fewer boys than girls in my class. 我班上男生比女生少。
there be句型中的there為引導詞，無詞義;be為謂語動詞，根據情況可以有單複數的變化，也可以有不同的時態變化;there be後面的名詞為句子主語。
表示某處存在有某人或某物是存在句最基本的用法，在實際運用中，它可以有更廣的用法。如：
There are not enough people to do the job. 幹這工作人手不夠。
There are a lot of things I’d like to ask you. 有好些事我想問你的。
There are other ways of doing this exercise. 還有別的辦法做這個練習。
這幾個句子中的there be句型並不具體表明某處存在有某事物，可視為there be句型基本結構的延伸用法。
二、there be的謂語問題
1. 主謂一致：若there be只有一個主語，謂語的數則取決於該主語的數;若有幾個主語並列，則通常是與靠近的主語保持一致。如：
There is a bus stop close to the school. 在學校附近有一個公共汽車站。
There are hairs on your jacket. 你的上衣上有幾根頭髮。
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。如：
There was a hospital nearby. 附近有一家醫院。
There has been no rain this week. 這個星期一直沒下雨。
There will be something you can enjoy. 會有你喜歡的東西。
3. 連用情態動詞：there be結構有時可以與情態動詞連用，此時情態動詞應放在there與be之間。如：
There must be a mistake. 一定是弄錯了。
There can’t be anyone waiting outside. 不會有人在外面等候。
There might still be hope. 可能還有希望。
4. there be的變體：有時根據句子的需要，我們也可將there be中的動詞be 換為 live, remain, seem, appear, exist, stand, lie, come等。如：
There comes a bus. 來了一輛公共汽車。
There remained just thirty pounds. 只剩30英鎊了。
There seems to be something wrong here. 這兒好像有點不大對勁。
At the top of the hill there stands an old temple. 在小山頂上有一座古廟。
三、否定式與疑問式
1. 否定式：there be結構的否定式通常應將否定詞置於動詞be之後。如：
There is not any bread left. 沒有一點麵包了。
There isn’t anything I can do for you. 我幫不了你什麼忙。
若謂語中包括有助動詞或情態動詞，通常將否定詞置於助動詞與情態動詞之後。如：
There can’t be so many mistakes. 不可能有那麼多錯誤。
There shouldn’t be any doubt about it. 對此不應有什麼懷疑。
There haven’t been any parties in weeks. 好幾個禮拜沒開過晚會了。
2. 疑問式：there be結構的疑問式通常應將否定詞置於動詞be之後。如：
Is there any good film on? 映什麼好電影嗎?
Is there room for me in the car? 車子裡還有我坐的地方嗎?
Are there any letters for me? 有我的信嗎?
若謂語中包括有助動詞或情態動詞，通常將助動詞或情態動詞移至句首構成疑問式。如：
Has there been an accident? 出事了嗎?
Have there been any new developments? 有什麼新的發展嗎?
Can there have been so much rain there?那兒會下過那麼多雨嗎?
四、there be的非謂語形式
there be結構的非謂語形式有兩種，即there being和there to be。
1. there being結構：該結構在句子中主要用作狀語。如：
There being nothing to do, I went to bed. 因為沒事可做，所以我就上床睡覺了。
There being no taxi available, he had to walk home. 由於沒有計程車可搭，他只好步行回家。
這類結構有時可與狀語從句轉換，如上面兩句也可作如下改寫：
As there was nothing to do, I went to bed.
As there was no taxi available, he had to walk home.
另外，there being結構還可用作介詞賓語。如：
What’s the chance of there being an election this year? 今年舉行選舉的可能性有多大?
No one would have dreamed of there being such a good place. 沒有人會夢想到竟有這樣一個地方。
2. there to be 結構：主要用作動詞賓語。可接該結構可用作動詞的動詞不多，常見的like, prefer, hate, want, mean, intend, expect, consider等。如：
I don’t want there to be any more trouble. 我不想再有任何麻煩了。
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。
注意，在let there be結構中，動詞be不帶to。如：
Let there be no mistake about it. 不要誤解我的意思。
Let there be no mistake about it. 這事不要出錯。
另外，there to be 結構還可用作介詞for的賓語。注意了，用作介詞賓語一般用there being，但用作介詞for的賓語時，卻要用there to be。比較：
It was too late for there to be any buses. 太晚了，不會有公共汽車了。
They asked for there to be another meeting. 他們要求再開一次會議。
五、there be+名詞+非謂語動詞
1. there be+賓語+現在分詞：現在分詞表示主動關係，同時表示動作正在進行。如：
There is someone waiting for him. 有人在等他。
There was a man standing in front of me. 我前面站著一個男人。
There were some children swimming in the river. 有些小孩在河裡游泳。
有時現在分詞不表示動作在進行，而表示一種狀態或現狀。如：
There’s a piano standing against the wall. 靠牆有一架鋼琴。
There’re a lot of difficulties facing us. 我們面前有很多困難。
There is a door leading to the garden. 有一座門通往花園。
正如come, go, leave, move 等表示位置移動的短暫性動詞的進行時態可表示將來意義一樣，“there be+名詞+現在分詞”也可以表示將來意義。如：
There are ten people coming to dinner. 有十個人來吃晚飯。
There were about 300 people moving to the new factory in the south. 大約有300人要搬到南方的.新廠去。
2. there be+賓語+過去分詞：過去分詞表示一種被動關係，同時表示動作已經發生。如：
There was nobody injured. 沒有人受傷。
There is nothing written on it. 上面沒寫東西。
There were ten people killed in the accident. 事故中有10人喪生。
In this book, there are some texts learnt before. 在這本書裡面，有些課文以前學過。
有時過去分詞也可表示一種狀態(可轉換成被動結構)。如：
There were some old men seated (=who were seated) in the back. 有些老人坐在後面。
There is a red car parked (=which is parked) outside the house. 房子外邊停著一輛紅色汽車。
3. there be+賓語+不定式：不定式通常表示動作尚未發生。如：
There was nobody to look after the child. 沒有人照顧這孩子。
There was a large crowd to send him off. 有一大群人要來給他送行。
There was so much to lose that we couldn’t take any risks. 可能會有很大的損失，因此我們不能冒險。
當其中的賓語與其後的不定式為被動關係時，可用主動表被動，也可用被動式。如：
There is much work to do [to be done]. 有許多工作要做。
但有時含義有差別——不定式用主動式可視為其前省略了for sb，用被動式可視為其後省略了by sb。如：
There is nothing to do. 無事可做。(含有無聊之意)
There is nothing to be done. 不能做什麼了。(指沒有辦法了)
There is nothing to see. 沒什麼可看的。(即不值一看)
There is nothing to be seen. 沒看見什麼。(指沒東西看)
六、There is no+動名詞
1. 表示否定：此時表示“不可能……”“無法……”。如：
There is no getting over the difficulty. 這困難無法克服。
There’s no telling what will happen. 無法說得上將發生什麼。
There is no knowing what he will do next. 無法知道他下一步要幹什麼。
2. 表示不允許：此時表示“不許……”“不準……”。如：
There is no photographing here. 這裡不許拍照。
Sorry, there is no smoking in the waiting room. 對不起，等候室不許吸菸。
七、 There is no+名詞+in doing sth
1. 名詞為difficulty：There is no difficulty in doing sth的意思是“做某事沒有困難”。如：
There is no difficulty in finding his office.
找到了他的辦公室沒費一點勁。
There was no difficulty in carrying out the plan.
執行這項計劃沒什麼困難。
2. 名詞為harm：There is no harm in doing sth的意思是“做某事沒有害處”。如：
There’s no harm in your coming early.
你早到沒有害處。
He may not be able to help but there’s no harm in asking him.
他可能幫不了忙，但是求他一下倒也無妨。
3. 名詞為point：There is no point in doing sth的意思是“做某事沒有用或沒有必要”。如：
There’s no point in wasting time.
耗時間沒用。
There’s no point in telling her about this.
把這情況告訴她沒有用。
There’s no point getting impatient with her; she’ll finish the job in her own good time.
不必跟她著急，她自己能找時間完成工作的。
4. 名詞為sense：There is no sense in doing sth的意思是“做某事沒有道理或好處”。如：
There’s no sense in criticizing him. 批評他也沒有用。
There’s no sense in waiting three hours. 等三小時是沒有道理的。
There’s no sense in making him angry. 惹他生氣是沒有道理的。
5. 名詞為use：There is no use in doing sth的意思是“做某事沒有用或好處”。如：
There is no use in trying to help him. 設法要幫助他也沒有用。
There’s no use in complaining; they won’t do anything about it. 發牢騷也沒用，他們是不會對這件事採取措施的。
