Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

I've been asked whether or not the following two questions are both
grammatically correct (and what the difference is):

1) How many birds are in the sky?
2) How many birds are there in the sky?

They both sound correct to me. The only difference I can come up with
is that perhaps the second one would be asked regarding a picture in which
there are birds here and there.
(i.e. How many birds are there in the sky [as opposed to in the tree]?)

Am I missing something here?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

They're both correct. The difference, if any, is extremely subtle. Think about the declarative versions of the questions:

"How many birds are in the sky?" = The birds are in the sky.

Here the focus is on the birds, e.g., what they are doing. It's WHERE they are.


How many birds are there in the sky?" = There are birds in the sky.

Here the focus is on the EXISTENCE of the birds in the sky and their presence in space. Not on their birdiness or essential qualities. They're WHAT is in the sky.

[brickabrack]

yes. both.
good explanations


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJzQiemCIuY