notional subject

notional subject (egentlig subjekt): a term used to refer to a subject which is placed towards the end of a clause, and which is represented by an anticipatory subject (it or there) at the beginning of the clause. The notional subject after anticipatory it is always realized by a clause, while the notional subject following the existential there is usually a noun phrase. E.g. (notional subject underlined) It is interesting to learn more about grammar. There is a new grammar book in the library.