GV

Introductory It

It as empty subject: It's raining. It seems that... It's important to...

intermediate

When to Use Introductory It

  • •Weather: It's raining. It's cold. It snowed yesterday.
  • •Time/distance: It's 3 o'clock. It's Monday. It's 5 miles to town.
  • •Opinions/feelings: It's important to... It's nice that... It seems that...
  • •Emphasis (cleft): It was John who called. It's the price that worries me.
  • •Anticipatory: It's easy to learn. (= To learn is easy.)

How to Form Introductory It

Affirmative (+)

It + be + adjective/noun + to-infinitive/that-clause

Negative (-)

It + isn't + adjective + to/that...

Question (?)

Is it + adjective + to/that...?

💡 It doesn't refer to anything specific; it's a grammatical placeholder.

Examples of Introductory It

✓It's important to be on time.

✗Is important to be on time.

Need 'it' as subject.

✓It seems that she's upset.

✗Seems that she's upset.

It as dummy subject.

✓It takes two hours to get there.

✗Takes two hours to get there.

It for duration/distance.

Common Mistakes with Introductory It

💡 Practice Tips for Introductory It

  • • Weather: It's + weather word (raining, sunny, cold).
  • • Time/date: It's + time/day (3 o'clock, Monday).
  • • Opinions: It's + adjective + to/that (It's good to see you).
  • • It doesn't refer to anything; it's just grammatically required.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.  raining heavily this morning.
  2. 2.Which sentence is correct? 
  3. Question 3: blank seems that she's upset. (dummy subject + verb)
    3. seems that she's upset. (dummy subject + verb)
  4. Question 4: blank takes two hours to get there from here.
    4. takes two hours to get there from here.
  5. Question 5: blank ___ 3 o'clock. We need to leave. (contracted)
    5. ___ 3 o'clock. We need to leave. (contracted)
  6. Question 6: Fix: Is difficult to understand. → blank difficult to understand.
    6.Fix: Is difficult to understand. → difficult to understand.
  7. Question 7: Choose 'it' or 'there': blank was John who called yesterday. (cleft for emphasis)
    7.Choose 'it' or 'there': was John who called yesterday. (cleft for emphasis)
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