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Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a subject?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a subject?
What type of "it" is used in the sentence "It is a beautiful day."?
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 a complement of a verb?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as an indefinite reference?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as an indefinite reference?
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Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a dummy subject?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as a dummy subject?
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Which of the following sentences uses "it" as an extraposed subject?
Which of the following sentences uses "it" as an extraposed subject?
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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.
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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.
