Abstract
In this paper, it is shown that there are structural differences between locational and periphrastic existential sentences (hereafter, abbreviated as ESs). It is argued that these structural differences can be accounted for by the hypothesis that locational and periphrastic ESs develop from two different deictic there-constructions. The reanalysis processes by means of which these two ES subcategories develop are argued to be governed by the principle of economy. This principle is proposed as a preliminary answer to the question: how do children expand their repertoire of constructions?
