existential (adj./n.)

A term used in the GRAMMATICAL description of CLAUSE or SENTENCE types, referring to a type of STRUCTURE commencing with the unstressed word there followed by a form of the verb be, the notion of existence thereby being expressed, e.g. there’s plenty to do, there are three cats on the wall. The relationship between such sentences and others (cf. three cats are on the wall, the wall has three cats on it, etc.) has attracted particular interest in LINGUISTICS, especially in GENERATIVE grammar. Several types of existential sentences have been recognized (including some where other forms than there and be are involved, e.g. she has a meal ready and there exist several such figures), and the relationship between these and other SEMANTIC categories (such as location and possession) is considered to be an important aspect of the investigation of UNIVERSAL grammatical FUNCTIONS.