Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a subject?
What type of "it" is used in the sentence "It is a beautiful day."?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a complement of a verb?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as an indefinite reference?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a dummy subject?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as an extraposed subject?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Definition of "it"
- "it" is a pronoun used to refer to a thing, concept, or situation
- Can be used as a subject, object, or complement of a verb
Types of "it"
- Neuter "it": used to refer to things, animals, and abstract concepts (e.g., "it is a book", "it is a dog", "it is happiness")
- Impersonal "it": used to refer to the weather, time, or distance (e.g., "it is raining", "it is 3 o'clock", "it is 5 miles away")
- Generic "it": used to refer to a general or abstract idea (e.g., "it is good to exercise", "it is important to learn")
Uses of "it"
- Indefinite reference: used to refer to something previously mentioned or easily identifiable (e.g., "I lost it", "Can you pass it to me?")
- Idiomatic expressions: used in idiomatic expressions with a specific meaning (e.g., "it takes two to tango", "it's raining cats and dogs")
- Cleft sentences: used to emphasize a particular part of a sentence (e.g., "it was John who ate the last cookie")
Special cases
- Dummy "it": used as a placeholder subject when there is no real subject (e.g., "it seems that...", "it appears that...")
- Extraposed "it": used to move a clause or phrase to the end of a sentence for emphasis or clarity (e.g., "it is said that...", "it is believed that...")
Definition of "it"
- Pronoun that represents a thing, concept, or situation.
- Functions as the subject, object, or complement within a sentence.
Types of "it"
- Neuter "it": Refers to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract concepts.
- Impersonal "it": Associated with weather, time, and distance, indicating circumstances or states (e.g., rain, hour).
- Generic "it": Represents broad or abstract ideas, often conveying opinions or moral values.
Uses of "it"
- Indefinite reference: Identifies something known or easily identified in conversation.
- Idiomatic expressions: Forms part of phrases that convey specific meanings unrelated to their individual words.
- Cleft sentences: Highlights a particular part of a sentence to create emphasis, drawing attention to specific subjects or actions.
Special cases
- Dummy "it": Serves as a placeholder for a subject that is either absent or not yet identified within the context.
- Extraposed "it": Rearranges clauses for enhanced emphasis or clarity, often moving the subject to the end of the sentence.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about the different types of 'it', including neuter, impersonal, and generic uses. Discover how to use 'it' as a subject, object, or complement of a verb.
