Introductory There

There

In English, the most common way of indicating existence is by using the structure there + to be. Normally there is an adverb of place. But the introductory there has no adverbial sense and is just used to introduce the sentence.

• There is a hole in my shoes. (More natural than A hole is in my shoes.)
• There is a bridge over the river.

There are is used with plural subjects.

• There are two people in the room. (More natural than Two people are in the room.)
• Once upon a time there were three wicked brothers.
• There have been many such rumours.
• There must be a reason for it.

Introductory there can also be used with some intransitive verbs, or with an intransitive verb + to be.

• There seems to be some misunderstanding between them.
• There happened to be no one nearby to help her.
• There fell a deep silence upon them.
• There grew a warm friendship between the two.

Definite subjects

There is not normally used in a sentence with a definite subject (e.g. a noun with a definite article, or a proper name)

• The door was open. (NOT There was the door open.)
• Peter was at the party. (NOT There was Peter at the party.)