[michèle 2]

I've just seen this sentence in a grammar book: "It's important for there to be enough jobs for everybody." Is it usual in written English, in spoken English or both of them?
Thanks for your answers
Michèle

[susan53]

Hi Michèle,
Here's an extract from an article I wrote some time ago which I think answers your question :

"In English it is unusual to use an indefinite expression as the subject of a sentence. Sentences like A squirrel is in the tree or A bus is coming are possible grammaticallly, but are generally avoided. Instead, the "empty" introductory subject There is inserted : There's a squirrel in the tree. There's someone coming. There must be some mistake. There can't have been enough time.

As these examples show There can be used like this with any verb pattern which would otherwise have an indefinite subject and which contains the verb Be. It can even be used in infinitive and -ing clauses : I don't want there to be any mistakes. He was surprised at there being so many possibilities."

So to answer your question - yes. it's perfectly normal in both spoken and written English.

[michèle 2]

Thanks a lot Sue.

Michèle