There-is/are Existential Sentences
What Is It?
An existential sentence introduces a new entity with there is/are/was/were + NP: “There are errors in logs.”
Why Use Existential Sentences?
- Topic introduction — eases reader into new info.
- Focus — delays subject until end.
- Natural flow — mirrors spoken English.
When to Choose Existential Sentences
Outage notices, dashboards (“There were 3 incidents yesterday”).
Forming Existential Sentences
| Tense | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | There is/are + NP | “There are updates pending.” |
| Past | There was/were + NP | “There were two rollbacks.” |
| Future | There will be + NP | “There will be downtime.” |
| Modal | There can/must be + NP | “There must be a fix.” |
Tips for Writing with Existential Sentences
- Pair with quantity for impact.
- Shift to canonical order once entity known.
- Avoid filler (There is the fact that…).
- Use contractions in casual tone (“There’s”).
Exceptions & Nuances
Plural after there is in informal speech common; keep strict agreement in docs.