"In the room were 4 chairs" versus "In the room there were 4 chairs"

[JarekSteliga]

I read this sentence in a book, "On board the Dutch jet were 14 crew and 234 passengers, including 48 children and 3 babies.".


Should it not be, "On board the Dutch jet there were ...."?

[konungursvia]

Your preference is the more common in today's vernacular, though there's nothing wrong with the original version, which has a certain elegance.

[JarekSteliga]

Your preference is the more common in today's vernacular, though there's nothing wrong with the original version, which has a certain elegance.

Can "there" be skipped in elegant questions also?

"Were children onboad the Dutch jet?" instead of what I always insist on, "Were there children onboard the Dutch jet?"

"How many chairs were in that room?" instead of, "How many chairs were there in that room?"

[bhaisahab]

Can "there" be skipped in elegant questions also?

"Were children on board the Dutch jet?" instead of what I always insist on, "Were there children onboard the Dutch jet?"

"How many chairs were in that room?" instead of, "How many chairs were there in that room?"

They are both fine.