There... and It...

Question 1

We use there when we talk about something for the ___ time, to say that it exists.

Answer 1

We use there (il y…) when we talk about something for the first time, to say that it exists.

There’s a new restaurant on Main Street.

I’m sorry I’m late. There was a lot of traffic.

There is also means “to/at/in that place”:

^{The new restaurant is very good}. I went there _{(= to the restaurant) last night}.

^{When we got to the party}, ^{there were already a lot of people there.}_{(= at the party)}

Question 2

It = sp___ thing, place fact, situation, etc.

Answer 2

It = sp___ thing, place fact, situation, etc.

We went to the new restaurant. It’s very good. (it = restaurant)

I wasn’t expecting them to come. It was a complete surprise.(It = that they came)

Compare there an it:

I don’t like this town. There’s nothing to do here. It’s a boring place.

Question 3

Can we say there will be, there must be, there might be, there used to be, etc.?

Answer 3

Can we say there will be, there must be, there might be, there used to be, etc.? Yes.

^{<strong>Will there be</strong> many people at the party?}

^{<strong>Is there</strong> a flight to Miami tonight? <strong>There might be</strong>. I’ll check.}

^{If people drove carefully, <strong>there wouldn’t be</strong> so many accidents.}

^{There was music playing. <strong>There must have been</strong> somebody at home.}

^{They live on a busy street. <strong>There must be</strong> a lof of noise from the traffic.}

^{Theey live on a busy stret. <strong>It must be</strong> very noisy.}

^{<strong>There is bound/ certain</strong> (=sure) to be a flight to Miami tonight.}

Question 4

What is more usual? It’s dangerous to walk in the street or To walk in the street is dangerous.

Answer 4

What is more usual? It’s dangerous to walk in the street or To walk in the street is dangerous.

^{<strong>It </strong>didn’t take us long <strong>to get here</strong>.}

^{<strong>It</strong>’s too bad (<strong>that</strong>) <strong>Sandra can’t come to the party</strong>.}

^{Let’s go. <strong>It</strong>’s not woth <strong>waiting any longer</strong>.}

We also use it to talk about distance, time, and weather:

^{How far is <strong>it</strong> from here to the airport?}

^{What day is <strong>it</strong> today?}

^{<strong>It</strong>’s been a ong time sice I saw you.}

^{<strong>It</strong> was windy.}

Question 5

There is/was or it is/was? ____ a bookstore near here? Yes, ___ one on Hill Street.

Answer 5

There is/was or it is/was? Is there a bookstore near here? Yes, there’s one on Hill Street.

Question 6

There is/was or it is/was? When we got to th movie theater, ___ a line outside. ____ a vely long line, so we decided to not wait.

Answer 6

There is/was or it is/was? When we got to th movie theater, there was a line outside. It was a very long line, so we decided to not wait.

Question 7

There is/was or** it is/was**? How far ___ from Hong Kong to Taipei?.

Answer 7

There is/was or it is/was? How far is it from Hong Kong to Taipei?.

Question 8

There is/was or it is/was? ___ Keith’s birthday yesterday. We had a party.

Answer 8

There is/was or it is/was? It was Keith’s birthday yesterday. We had a party.

Question 9

There is/was or it is/was? I wanted to vist the museum, but ____ enough time.

Answer 9

There is/was or it is/was? I wanted to vist the museum, but there wasn’t enough time.

Question 10

There is/was or it is/was? ____ time to leave? Yes, ____ almost midnight.

Answer 10

There is/was or it is/was? Is it time to leave? Yes, it’s almost midnight.

Question 11

There is/was or it is/was? ____ anything on television, so I turned it off.

Answer 11

There is/was or it is/was? There wasn’t anything on television, so I turned it off.

Question 12

Do we have any eggs? I’m not sure. There ___ be some in the fridge.

Answer 12

Do we have any eggs? I’m not sure. There might be some in the fridge.

Question 13

I think everything will be OK. I don’t think there ___ be any problems.

Answer 13

I think everything will be OK. I don’t think there will be any problems.

Question 14

Look at the sky. There ____ be a storm.

Answer 14

Look at the sky. There going to be a storm.

Question 15

Is there a school in this town? Not now. There ____ be one, but it close.

Answer 15

Is there a school in this town? Not now. There used to be one, but it close.

Question 16

People drive too fast on this road. I think there ___ be a speed limit.

Answer 16

People drive too fast on this road. I think there should be a speed limit.

Question 17

If people weren’t agressive, there ____ (not) be any wars.

Answer 17

If people weren’t agressive, there wouldn’t be any wars.

Question 18

Last winter it was very cold, and it was/there was a lot of snow.

Answer 18

Last winter it was very cold, and there was a lot of snow.

Question 19

Why was she so unfriendly? It/there must have been a reason.

Answer 19

Why was she so unfriendly? There must have been a reason.

Question 20

It’s/there’s a long way from my house to the nearest store.

Answer 20

It’s a long way from my house to the nearest store.

Question 21

I was told that it/there would be somebody to meet me at the airport, but it/there wasn’t anybody.

Answer 21

I was told that there would be somebody to meet me at the airport, but there wasn’t anybody.