B1 · Intermediate

Dummy it and preparatory it: it's raining, it's nice to meet you, I find it strange that

Ordinary English statements and questions need a subject (orders like "Sit down" are the exception). When there is no real subject, you use it: it's raining, it's half past nine. You also use it to introduce a longer subject or object that comes later: It's nice to meet you. I find it strange that he left.

Ordinary sentences have a subject

Ordinary statements and questions have a subject. Some sentences use it or there as a subject without referring to a particular person or thing.

My sister has just moved house. She is a nurse.

The imperative is an exception: Go away. Play it again, please.

It for time, dates and weather

Use it to talk about times and dates, and the weather. It does not refer to anything. It is an empty or dummy subject.

It's half past nine.
It's the fourth of May.
It's snowing in the hills.
It was getting dark.

It + be + adjective + -ing or to

Use it with the verb be, an adjective and an -ing form or a to-infinitive to give an opinion.

Opinion

Itbeadjective-ing / toverb

It's relaxing sitting by the river.
It's good to see you.

It before a clause: preparatory subject

Use it to start a sentence when the real subject is a long clause, especially a to-infinitive or a that-clause. This use of it introduces, or anticipates, the subject. The real subject comes later in the sentence.

With it (usual)	More formal, real subject first
It's surprising that the museum is free.	That the museum is free is surprising.
It was a pleasure to hear your news.	To hear your news was a pleasure.

It's unlikely that the parcel will arrive today.

The sentence with it at the front is the more usual one. The other order is more formal.

Other verbs with it: it seems, it occurred to me

Use it with verbs such as seem, appear, look and occur when a clause is the subject.

It seems the lift has broken down again.
It occurred to me that the spare key might be in the drawer.

It as a preparatory object

With verbs such as find and consider, use it + adjective + that-clause or to-infinitive to introduce an object.

I find it worrying that the river is so low.
I find it difficult to work with the radio on.
My neighbours consider it rude to arrive late for dinner.

Do not leave out it before the adjective: say I find it amazing that, not I find amazing that.

It with the passive

You can also use it with the passive, followed by a that-clause.

It was agreed that the library would stay open later.
It is believed that the missing painting is still in the country.

It or there?

Use	Example
it for time, date, weather, opinion	It's snowing. It's good to see you.
there for existence, place or amount	There's a crack in the window. There were forty chairs in the hall.

See There is and there are: saying that something exists for there.

Watch out

✗Is raining.

✓It is raining.

This statement needs a subject. Use it for the weather.

✗Is nice to meet you.

✓It's nice to meet you.

The subject it is needed before is.

✗I find worrying that the river is so low.

✓I find it worrying that the river is so low.

In this pattern after find, put it before the adjective.

✗Is a parcel at the door?

✓Is there a parcel at the door?

Use there to ask whether a parcel is present. Use it to identify or describe a particular parcel: "It's at the door" can refer to a parcel already mentioned or clear from the situation.

What comes next

For there is and there are, see There is and there are: saying that something exists. For he, she and it, see Subject and object pronouns: I and me, they and them. For passive forms, see The passive in many tenses and with modal verbs.

Practice

Eight questions. Choose one answer for each.