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What is an "existential clause"?

An existential clause is a type of clause that introduces the existence of something, often using the verb "to be." These clauses typically begin with phrases like "there is," "there are," "there was," or "there will be." For example, in the sentence "There are many books on the shelf," the existential clause "There are many books" indicates the existence of books without specifying who owns them. Existential clauses focus on the presence or occurrence of an entity rather than identifying a specific subject. They are commonly used to introduce new information or to highlight the existence of something in a particular context.