屋根の上に…

＞ there 構文 / 冠詞 / 語順 /

✕ There is the cat on the roof of that house.

○ There is a cat on the roof of that house.

上記×印の表現は英語の統語上の制約に反し、文法的な正確さに欠けています。目の前に事実として現れている―現実の枠組みを背景とする―事柄を提示する場合、その事柄が不定でなければ不自然です。下記の表現1)～8)は、上記○印の表現と同様、文法的に問題のない自然な表現です。

1) The cat is on the roof of that house.

2) Here is your book.

3) A cat came into the living room.

4) There's three cars in the garage.

5) There's the strangest bird in the cage.

6) In England there was never the problem that was in America.

7) A: Have we any loose cash in the house?  B: Well, there's the money in the box over there.

8) There flew through the window that shoe of yours.

いっぽう、下記1)～6)の表現は、上記×印の表現と同様、英語の統語上の制約に反し、文法的な正確さに欠けています。

1) A cat is on the roof of that house.

2) An error is in your argument.

3) There is the moon in the sky.

4) There are in that monograph errors.

5) There were several students tall.

6) There are almost all boys in the garden.