這類句型與中文的語法有雷同與相異之處，使用時要稍加謹慎，以免落入中式英文的陷阱。

1.「There be」 句型多指說話者敘述時 或話中所指出的時間之前便已(存在) 的事實。

a. 引起聽者注意

A man is on the street. 
(街上有一個男人。)
There is a man on the street. (強調 或者 第一次提及)

b. 說明事物的存在

There are trees on the both sides of the street.
(道路兩旁有樹木。)

There are still several million people in this country who cannot read or write.
(這個國家依然有數百萬人不會讀書會寫字。)

When he arrived at Baker Street, he was surprised to find there was a disastrous fire in that area. The police had blocked off all the neighboring streets, and he was unable to get through and go back home.
(他到達 Baker 街時，驚訝地發現該區已經發生大火災。由於警方早已封鎖鄰近街道，他無法通過該區回到家裡。)

(錯例)
During the summer, there is at least one typhoon in Taiwan.
(修改) At least one typhoon hits Taiwan every summer.
 
(錯例)
He was staying at a hotel, and there was a fire yesterday.
(修改) The hotel he stayed at caught fire yesterday. 

 

2. 「there + 動詞」句型

a. there + exist/live/lie/remain/stand

Still, there remains one problem to be solved.
(仍然有一個問題需要解決。)

Beyond the hill, there lies a shining stretch of sand beach.
(山丘後方有一片閃閃發亮的沙丘。)

Deep down in the depth of the galaxy, there may exist other solar systems like ours.
(在銀河系的深處，或許有其他如同太陽系的星系。)

There once lived in a castle a beautiful princess by the name of Snow White.
(好久好久以前，有一位名叫白雪的美麗公主居住在一座城堡裡。)

b. there + seem/happen/appear/chance/prove…+ to be

 There happened to be a police officer on the street corner, so I reported the accident to him.
(當時剛好看到街角有位警察，我便向他告知意外事件的發生經過。)

 There seems to be no hope at all.
(似乎一線希望都沒有。)    

c.  there +  arrive/come/enter/follow/rise (具有行進意義的動詞)

 There comes the proud fool.
(高傲的傻子來了。)

 There rise in the western sky a bright, shining star.
(西邊的天空出現一顆耀眼的星星。)