In the background is a white wall [duplicate]

Question

In the background is a white wall
or
in the background there is a white wall?

Answer 1

• In the background is a white wall
  or
  In the background there is a white wall?

Both. These sentences are both inverted locative sentences, coming from

• A white wall is in the background

and

• There is a white wall in the background

respectively, both of which are grammatical, as are both of their inversions above.

The difference between the two original sentences is that one has undergone There-insertion, which moves subjects to the end and inserts there as a dummy subject. So we have four grammatical sentences, produced from only one original, with two optional rules to apply. If there were three optional rules to apply, there might be eight grammatical sentences -- or there might be a restriction between some of the rules that would produce fewer, or a different sense that would produce more. Which gives you some idea how syntax works.

Inversions of locative sentences are common, and the ones that use be are also prone to There-insertion.

Answer 2

Both are normally considered acceptable in informal writing, but in formal writing, you should never assume the subject. As such, it is more proper to say:

"In the background, there is a white wall."

Also note the comma. Inverted sentences in formal writing are supposed to be separated by one.

Answer 3

The correct and grammatical way to say the sentence would be "In the background, there is a white wall." You could say, however, "The background is a white wall." Because you're connecting "white wall" and background" with a linking verb.

If you said "In the background is a white wall," it is less of a formal way to say the sentence and is more of a style of writing. Depending on the type of writing you're doing, it can be suitable. It seems like it fits more into a creative writing type of style rather than a formal one.