A practical english grammar - Vyssaja skola 1978

The dummy subject THERE
Sound symbols

The word there, spoken with weak stress, is used as a dummy subject before be and a few other verbs. Its use causes the real subject to be moved to a position after the verb. The complements, if any, follow the subject.

There’s a tree in front of the house.

There aren’t any more apples.

In questions, there comes after be, and the real subject follows.

Aren’t there any more apples?

In the patterns without a complement, be states mere existence.