there + modal + be
there + modal + be means “There + a modal or auxiliary + be talks about the existence of something with extra shades like possibility or the past.”. The 'there is/are' pattern can take a modal or auxiliary between there and be: there might be a problem (possibility), there used to be a shop here (past state), there will be a party, there must be a mistake. Formation: there + will/might/must/used to + be + noun
There + a modal or auxiliary + be talks about the existence of something with extra shades like possibility or the past.
B1Formation
there + will/might/must/used to + be + noun
Explanation
The 'there is/are' pattern can take a modal or auxiliary between there and be: there might be a problem (possibility), there used to be a shop here (past state), there will be a party, there must be a mistake. Be stays in its base form after the modal: there could be, there should be. The noun that follows still decides singular or plural: there might be a delay / there might be delays.
Examples
Note
Only be follows there in this pattern, never a full verb: use 'there seems to be' or 'there might be', not 'there might happen'. Used to be describes what existed before but no longer does.
FAQ
there + modal + be — what does it mean and how is it used?
There + a modal or auxiliary + be talks about the existence of something with extra shades like possibility or the past.. The 'there is/are' pattern can take a modal or auxiliary between there and be: there might be a problem (possibility), there used to be a shop here (past state), there will be a party, there must be a mistake. Be stays in its base form after the modal: there could be, there should be. The noun that follows still decides singular or plural: there might be a delay / there might be delays.
there + modal + be — how do you form it?
there + will/might/must/used to + be + noun
there + modal + be — any usage notes?
Only be follows there in this pattern, never a full verb: use 'there seems to be' or 'there might be', not 'there might happen'. Used to be describes what existed before but no longer does.