There seems to have been: there with modals, reporting and -ing

Examples

1. There appears to have been a mistake with your booking.

2. There is bound to be a queue on a Saturday.

3. There is no denying that the service has improved.

4. There being no further questions, the meeting was closed.

Common mistakes

• ✗Wrong: It seems to be a problem with the engine.

  ✓Right: There seems to be a problem with the engine.

  To introduce something that exists, use there, not it.

• ✗Wrong: There seems to be several mistakes.

  ✓Right: There seem to be several mistakes.

  The verb agrees with the noun that follows.

• ✗Wrong: There is no point to argue.

  ✓Right: There is no point arguing.

  no point (in) + -ing.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AThere seems to be fewer buses on Sundays.
   2. BThere seem to being fewer buses on Sundays.
   3. CThere seem to be fewer buses on Sundays.
   4. DIt seem to be fewer buses on Sundays.
   Show answer

   Answer: C There seem to be fewer buses on Sundays.

   The verb agrees with the plural noun after it.

2. 2Change the sentence.

   Use there with appear.

   Apparently a mistake was made.

   1. AThere appears to be a mistake made it.
   2. BIt appears to have been a mistake there.
   3. CThere appears to have been a mistake.
   4. DThere appear to having been a mistake.
   Show answer

   Answer: C There appears to have been a mistake.

   There appears to have been + noun.

3. 3Fill in the gap.

   There is no _____ what she will say when she finds out.

   1. Ato tell
   2. Btell
   3. Ctelling
   4. Dtold
   Show answer

   Answer: C There is no telling what she will say when she finds out.

   There is no telling = it is impossible to know.

4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

   What does the speaker mean?

   There’s bound to be someone who can help.

   1. ASomeone has to be forced to help.
   2. BHelp was available yesterday.
   3. CCertainly someone will be able to help.
   4. DNobody can possibly help.
   Show answer

   Answer: C Certainly someone will be able to help.

   There’s bound to be = there will certainly be.

5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

   It is no need to bring anything to the party.

   1. AThere needs no bring anything to the party.
   2. BThere is no need to bring anything to the party.
   3. CIt is no need for bringing anything to the party.
   4. DThere is no need bringing anything to the party.
   Show answer

   Answer: B There is no need to bring anything to the party.

   There is no need to + infinitive.

6. 6Put the words in the right order.

   There is likely to be a delay

   Show answer

   Answer: There is likely to be a delay.

   There is likely to be = there will probably be.

7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AThere says to be gold in these hills.
   2. BThere is said to be gold in these hills.
   3. CThere is said being gold in these hills.
   4. DIt is said to be gold in these hills.
   Show answer

   Answer: B There is said to be gold in these hills.

   Reporting passive with there: There is said to be …

8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

   Which sentence is the most formal?

   Closing a meeting.

   1. AThere being no further business, the meeting was closed.
   2. BThat’s it, then, see you all next week.
   3. CNothing else? Right, we’re done.
   4. DOK, so no more stuff, let’s wrap up.
   Show answer

   Answer: A There being no further business, the meeting was closed.

   There being + noun is a formal participle clause.

9. 9Fill in the gap.

   You are explaining why an order is late.

   There _____ to have been a problem with the delivery company.

   1. Aseems
   2. Bseem it
   3. Cis seeming
   4. Dhas seemed it
   Show answer

   Answer: A There seems to have been a problem with the delivery company.

   Singular noun: There seems to have been.

10. 10Change the sentence.

    Begin with there.

    Nobody can deny that the town has changed.

    1. AThere no denying is that the town has changed.
    2. BThere is no denying that the town has changed.
    3. CThere is not denying that the town has changed.
    4. DThere is no deny that the town has changed.
    Show answer

    Answer: B There is no denying that the town has changed.

    There is no denying that + clause.