Podcast
Questions and Answers
English clauses always have a ______
English clauses always have a ______
subject
If there is no other ______, we use there to talk about where or when something is
If there is no other ______, we use there to talk about where or when something is
subject
We use ______ to talk about times and dates
We use ______ to talk about times and dates
it
We use ______ to talk about the weather
We use ______ to talk about the weather
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We use ______ with the verb be and an –ing form or to-infinitive to express opinions
We use ______ with the verb be and an –ing form or to-infinitive to express opinions
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What is the minimum age at which people must go to school in England?
What is the minimum age at which people must go to school in England?
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Where is Jamaica located?
Where is Jamaica located?
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What is Jerry's workplace located in?
What is Jerry's workplace located in?
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What is the reason why the man went to prison?
What is the reason why the man went to prison?
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Why did Mary's friend Zoe go to the hospital?
Why did Mary's friend Zoe go to the hospital?
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Where does Amy's aunt live?
Where does Amy's aunt live?
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What is Kate doing at the beginning of the conversation?
What is Kate doing at the beginning of the conversation?
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What is the reason why the speaker doesn't like a particular restaurant?
What is the reason why the speaker doesn't like a particular restaurant?
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Study Notes
Dummy Subjects in English Clauses
- English clauses always have a subject, except for the imperative.
Using 'there' as a Dummy Subject
- We use 'there' to talk about:
- Where or when something is: e.g. "There's an interesting book on the shelf", "There'll be an eclipse of the moon tonight".
- A number or amount: e.g. "There is plenty of bread left", "There were twenty people at the meeting".
- Something existing or happening: e.g. "There's a small problem", "There was a nasty fight".
Using 'it' as a Dummy Subject
- We use 'it' to talk about:
- Times and dates: e.g. "It's nearly one o'clock", "It's my birthday".
- The weather: e.g. "It's raining", "It's a lovely day", "It was getting cold".
- We use 'it' with the verb 'be' and an –ing form or to-infinitive to express opinions: e.g. "It's great living here", "It's nice to meet you".
Daily Life
- Kate interacts with a customer in a shop.
- John is an avid Internet user.
Travel and Places
- You can find monkeys at the zoo.
- Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean Sea.
- Jerry works in an office in central London.
- He lives in an apartment in the Bronx.
- Oxford Street has shops with employees like the woman mentioned.
- Larry goes to bed very late.
- Angela seeks a romantic holiday in the southern region.
Education
- In England, school attendance is mandatory until the age of 16.
Work and Jobs
- Jerry has an office job in central London.
- A woman has a job in a shop on Oxford Street.
- Zoe's friend is looking for work but lacks hope of getting a job.
Food and Drink
- There is a restaurant with unappreciated food.
- Italian food is preferred over Spanish food by the speaker's dad.
- The speaker likes coffee but dislikes the office coffee.
Miscellaneous
- People prefer writing emails to letters nowadays.
- Women are said to live longer than men according to statistics.
- A man went to prison for killing two women.
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Description
Learn about the use of dummy subjects 'it' and 'there' in English clauses, including exceptions and specific uses.
