a 24.1 Structural properties of existential sentences a The existential sentence generally begins with an unstressed there as formal subject followed by a form of the verb be or other verb that is related to the notion of existence. Following the verb is a noun phrase which is known as the notional or real subject as distinguished from the formal subject, and the notional subject is usually followed by a locative, or at times by a temporal adverbial Thus, the general pattern of an existential sentence is as follows a There t be +np+ locative /temporal adverbial◼ 24.1 Structural properties of existential sentences ◼ The existential sentence generally begins with an unstressed there as formal subject followed by a form of the verb be or other verb that is related to the notion of existence. Following the verb is a noun phrase, which is known as the “notional” or “real” subject as distinguished from the formal subject, and the notional subject is usually followed by a locative, or at times by a temporal adverbial. Thus, the general pattern of an existential sentence is as follows: ◼ There + be + NP + locative / temporal adverbial