存在句的非限定形式是there to be和there being结构。这两种结构在用法上有相同点。为便于比较，我们把它们放在一起介绍。
1） 作介词补足成分
两种结构都可作介词补足成分。如果介词是for，便只能用there to be结构。
Eg.) It is too early for there to be anyone around here.
It is important for there to be a fire escape.
也能用在不及物动词+for之后:
They planned for there to be another meeting.
如果介词不是for, 则要用 there being结构。
Eg.) John was relying on there being another opportunity.
----We didn’t find Smith attending the lecture.
----No one told him about there being a lecture the following day.
2） 作宾语
作宾语时, 通常用there to be结构。
Eg.) Members like there to be plenty of choices.
能这样用的及物动词为数有限,常见的有expect, mean, intend, want, like, prefer, hate等。
3） 作主语和状语
there being结构还能用作主语和状语。
Eg.) There being a bus stop so near the house is a great advantage.
There having been no rain, the ground was dry.
存在句的限定形式与非限定形式之间可以相互转换。
For there to be so few people in the streets was unusual.
(=It was unusual for there to be so few people in the streets.)
有时限定形式与非限定形式还可以结合使用。
Eg.) It is said that there are troops on the frontier.
=There are said to be troops on the frontier.
Exercise:
Fill in gaps with there to be or there being:
1. People don’t want ______________ another war.
2. There’s now some hope of ______ a settlement of the dispute.
3. They asked for _______ another meeting.
4. John asked about ______ another meeting.
5. John intended _______ a meeting afterwards.
6. It’s essential for ______ more houses built next year.
7. ____________ no further business, the chairman closed the meeting.
8. John planned on ______ another meeting.
9. People hate ________ queues everywhere.
10. What John was waiting for was for _____ complete silence.
关系代词的省略:
1. This is the fastest train there is to Beijing.
2. He asks for the latest book there is on the shelf.
3. ---- What did the football player you were talking to want?
---- He would like to read or listen to an account of everything there is going on in the world.