There be"是英语中最常见的又是非常重要的句型,它是表示"存在" 的一种基本方式,其句型结构通常为:There be + sb./sth. + somewhere/doing sth. "There be"还有更多较为特殊的用法。我们都知道 "There be" 后面可跟一个名词或动名词,请看下面例句:
1. There is a shop at the corner, where you can buy fruits.
在拐角处有家商店,你可以在那里买水果。
2. There is no knowing what may happen tomorrow.
谁也不知道明天将发生什么。
同时,我们也可以根据表达的需要,在There与 be之间用上恰当的情态动词can,may,must,should,will等,构成:There will /may/must/can,etc. be... 请看:
1. There will be another bridge across the Yellow River with the quick development of the economy of China.
随着中国经济的飞速发展,黄河上将有另一座桥。
2. There must be some rules for the changes.
这些变化中一定有规律。
3. There may be some errors, but the composition, as a whole, is beyond praise.
这篇作文可能有些小错误,但总的来说是非常好的。
4. There should be some steps to prevent such accidents.
要防止这样的事故,应该采取一些措施。
除此之外,如果您是一位注重课外阅读者,相信也经常可以见到 "There to be" 和 "There being"结构。 例如:
1. It was unusual for there to be so few flowers in the park.
公园里只有这么一点花是不同寻常的。
2. There being no bus, we had to take a taxi.
因为没有公共汽车,我们只好乘出租车。
接下来,我们一起探讨 "There to be"和"There being"的用法及意义:
I. "There to be"的用法及意义:
A. "There to be" 可以用作一个动词的宾语,我们通常称之为复合宾语,其意义常表示对将来的一种意愿或希望,但目前还没"存在"。例如:
1. Would you like there to be a hospital near your home 
你想在你家附近有家医院吗 
(事实上,目前还没有医院。划线部分作动词like的宾语)
2. We teachers don't want there to be any students staying in the classroom after school.
我们老师不希望有任何学生放学后留在教室里。
(实际上所有的学生放学后都离校)
3. She doesn't hope there to be any quarrel between me and her.
她不希望我们之间有什么争吵。(对将来的一种希望)
B. "There to be"也可以用在句型 "It be + adj. "中。例如:
1. It is impossible for there to be any more chance.
不可能再有机会。
2. It was too late for there to be any open shops.
时间太晚了,不会有营业的商店了。
3. It is important for there to be a free school for the poor children.
给贫困的孩子建一所免费学校太重要了。
II. "There being"的用法及意义:
A. "There being"可以用作一个介词的复合宾语,跟 "There to be"不同的是:"There to be"往往表示目前"没有存在"的事物;而"There being"则通常表示"已经存在"的事情。请看:
1. The Chinese are proud of there being the Great Wall in North China.
中国人以在中国北部有个长城而自豪。
2. No one told him about there being a meeting that afternoon.
没人告诉他那天下午有个会。
3. You were wrong about there being some misunderstandings between us.
认为我们之间有误解,那你就错了。
B. "There being"还可以用作副词,在语法上叫"独立结构"。如:
1. There being nothing to do, we went home separately.
由于没有什么事要做, 我们就各自回家了。
2. There being no teacher in the classroom, the pupils began to talk freely.
由于教室里没有教师,学生们开始自由交谈。
总之,掌握"There be"的用法及意义对我们教师来说极为重要,同时,我们也要关注 "There to be" be about to和 "There being"。知己知彼,由此及彼,才能使自身的英语炉火纯青!
There be 句型难点解析及练习
一、    There be 句型常用的时态形式有一般现在时、一般过去时、一般将来时、现在完成时和过去完成时。例如：
1.      There is someone at the door to see you. 门口有人你。
2.      There will be a meeting this evening. 今晚有个约会。
3.      ---Have there been any letters from Jack lately? 近日有杰克的来信吗？
---No, there hasn’t. 不，没有。
4.      There had been many such accidents before you came. 你来之前就有过很多起这样的事故。
二、    There be 句型中be 前面可用一些半助动词，如：be about to (就要), be certain to (一定会), be going to (将要),be likely to (可能), be to (要), had better (最好), have to (必须), used to (过去常), appear/seem/happen to (似乎/恰好)等。例如：
1.      There used to be a grocery store on the corner. 以前在这个街口有家杂货店。
2.      There is certain to be something wrong with the engine.
  = It appears / is certain that there is something wrong with the engine.
    发动机一定是出了毛病。
3.      There appears to have been a nasty accident. 似乎有一起严重的事故。
三、    There be 句型中的替换词有：come (来), develop (产生), exist (存在), fall (落下), follow (跟随), happen (发生), lie (躺着), live (住着), occur (发生), remain (还有), rise (升起),s
tand (站着)等。这些动词可以有时态变化，及物动词还可以有语态变化。例如：
1.      There fell a deep silence. 突然一片寂静。
2.      There remains one more test to be carried out before putting the instrument into operation. 在使用这一设备之前要完成一项试验。
3.      Not long after this, there occurred a sudden revolution in public taste. 此后不久，公众的情趣发生了突然的变化。
4.      There stands at the center of the square the Monument to the People’s Heroes. 在广场的中央矗立着人民英雄纪念碑。
四、    There be 句型中，谓语动词和合后面的主语在数方面保持一致。如果有两个或更多的主语，则与离动词最近的那个主语保持一致。例如：
There is only a table, four chairs and a small bed in the room.
房子里有一张桌子，四把椅子和一张小床。
五、    There be 句型有不定式、现在分词和动名词形式，在句中用作主语、宾语、定语或状语等。例如：
1.      There being a bus stop so near the house is a great advantage.
    公共汽车站离家这么近是一个很有利的条件。（There being a bus 用作主语）
2.      I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding. 我不想引起任何误解。（There to be 作宾语）
3.      No one would have dreamt of there being such a fine place. 谁也没想到会有这样的一个好地方。（There being 在句子中作介词of的宾语。需注意的是，结构若出现在介词for的后面则要用动词不定式；若出现在其他介词后面则要用动名词）