What is an expletive sentence?
An expletive sentence is a sentence that starts with an expletive (a word that doesn't have grammatical function but fills a grammatical slot), usually "there" or "it," followed by a form of the verb "to be" and then the actual subject of the sentence.
Example:
* There is a cat on the porch.
Explanation:
* There: The expletive, it doesn't have a grammatical function.
* is: The verb "to be" in its present tense form.
* a cat: The actual subject of the sentence.
Why use "there"?
Expletive sentences are often used to:
* Emphasize the subject: "There was a huge crowd at the concert."
* Introduce new information: "There are three new students in my class."
* Make the sentence sound more natural: "There is no one home."
Other examples:
* There will be a test tomorrow.
* There are many different types of flowers in the garden.
* There seems to be a problem with the internet connection.
Important Note: The expletive "there" should not be confused with the adverb "there," which indicates location.