is a small planet

[ratóncolorao]

Hello,
I have found this text in a tail for children:

" Thousands of miles from Earth, on the far side of the universe, is a small planet, Fliturne."

You may read it here:

The cold planet | LearnEnglish Kids | British Council

Shouldn't it be: there is a small planet .... ?

Thank you for your help

 

[5jj]

" Thousands of miles from Earth, on the far side of the universe, is a small planet, Fliturne."

Shouldn't it be: there is a small planet .... ?

No. If we move the words that I have underlined to the end of the sentence, then we must begin with "There is a small planet...", but there is no need for 'there' in the original sentence. It is acceptable to use 'there' if you wish to.

 

[Verona_82]

Are we dealing with inversion here?

 

[ratóncolorao]

No. If we move the words that I have underlined to the end of the sentence, then we must begin with "There is a small planet...", but there is no need for 'there' in the original sentence. It is acceptable to use 'there' if you wish to.

I thought that a subject was always needed in an English sentence, that is why I miss something there.
So, from your point of view the original sentence is correct..... "...is a small planet...". Still, I don't understand it from a grammatical point of view. Would you be so kind to explain it to me?

Thanks a lot.

 

[engee30]

Are we dealing with inversion here?

You're bang on! :up:

 

[5jj]

I thought that a subject was always needed in an English sentence, that is why I miss something there.

Take Verona's answer, and the subject of the verb is revealed - a small planet, Fliturne

 

[ratóncolorao]

Take Verona's answer, and the subject of the verb is revealed - a small planet, Fliturne

Excuse me if I go on with this subject, but, now, I would like you to have a look at this other page:

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/sites/kids/files/attachment/cold-planet-story_0.pdf

The word Fliturne has simply disappeared.

Thank you.

 

[5jj]

The word Fliptu[STRIKE]r[/STRIKE]ne has simply disappeared.

That makes no difference grammatically.

ps. I have just noticed that the planet is called 'Fliptune'.

 

[ratóncolorao]

That makes no difference grammatically.

ps. I have just noticed that the planet is called 'Flipturne"

Well, the missing of a "p" doesn't make any difference.....
However, the lack of the name of the planet in the text, does make a difference, at least from my point of view.
Obviously, I am a foreigner, but we are taught the importance of a subject in every sentence. Hence, I am a bit confused. I just wanted some aide in order to comprehend it.

Thanks again for your answers

 

[ratóncolorao]

That makes no difference grammatically.

ps. I have just noticed that the planet is called 'Flipturne"

Well, the missing of a "p" doesn't make any difference.....
However, the lack of the name of the planet in the text, does make a difference, at least from my point of view.
Obviously, I am a foreigner, but we are taught about the importance of a subject in every sentence. Hence, I am a bit confused. I just wanted some aide in order to comprehend it.

Thanks again for your answers

 

[Verona_82]

Ratoncolorao, you might find this thread interesting:
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/142842-object-subject-there-sentences.html
We've been discussing subject/object functions in an English sentence, as well as word order. We've also touched upon inversion.

 

[5jj]

However, the lack of the name of the planet in the text, does make a difference, at least from my point of view.

I said that it does not make a difference grammatically. I meant that there was still a grammatical subject.

In post #6 I said that the subject was a small planet, Fliturne. I shoud have said that the subject was only a small planet. (As this small planet was Fliturne, it doesn't really matter.) If we omit Fliturne, even if we omit small, there is still a subject.