Found:
there-insertion
SYNTAX: operation which inserts expletive there in the first, presumably the subject position of an existential sentence. EXAMPLE: (i)a has been analyzed as being derived from (i)b by inserting there in the empty slot '__'.
(i) a there is someone in the room
b __ is someone in the room
This construction is now usually analyzed with the expletive base-generated in subject position and the logical subject adjoined or attached to VP. See CHAIN, Definiteness effect.
| LIT. | Chomsky, N. (1986a) Chomsky, N. and H. Lasnik (1993) Milsark, G.L. (1974) Safir, K. (1985) |