▲“There + be +过去分词+主语”，其实是被动语态的变式，去掉引导词There，还原本来面目。现在，我直接使用网友的句子为例：

There are now published millions of books very year in China.

等于：Millions of books are now published very year in China.

On the following day, there was held a splendid banquet.

等于：On the following day, a splendid banquet was held.

There was shownat the exhibition an electronic computer made in Shanghai.

等于：An electronic computer made in Shanghai was shownat the exhibition.

▲“There + be +现在分词+主语”，其实是不及物动词进行时态的变式，去掉引导词There，还原本来面目。现在，我直接使用网友的句子为例：

There were running in the garden a group of children aged from seven to twelve.

等于：A group of children aged from seven to twelve were running in the garden.

【我的观点】任何事物的出现都是有原因的，语言现象亦然。我认为，there的上述用法，体现了语言的3个方面。概括起来，不外乎以下几个原因：

2.修辞方面：There置于句首，旨在使句子匀称。如：There was shown at the exhibition an electronic computer made in Shanghai.

若说：An electronic computer made in Shanghai was shown at the exhibition.会显得头重脚轻。

3.语法方面：There置于句首，改变句子的正常结构。去掉引导词There之后，变成正常语序，以上三种情况的例句，分别为：

(1)There is a book on the desk.→A book is on the desk.

(2)There lived an old man in the forest long ago.→An old man lived in the forest long ago.

(3)There are now published millions of books very year in China.→Millions of books are now published very year in China.

【说明】There置于句首，如果没有实际词汇意义，往往引起句子结构的倒装。如果有实际词汇意义（“在那里”），则不然。试比较：

There stands a temple on the top of the mountain. (There没有实际意义)

There I saw my old friend Tom. (There表示“在那里”)