Starting Sentences with 'It'
All the sentences above start with ‘it’. Here are examples
of how and why we start a sentence with ‘it’.
1. ‘It’ is used as
a dummy or an empty subject.
It is a beautiful day.
It’s rather late now.
My mother doesn’t like it when I
leave my dirty clothes on the floor.
How long will it be before the
doctor calls my name?
2. ‘It’ is used to
introduce the subject that is usually a ‘that’ clause or a ‘to’ and an infinitive.
It is unlikely that the water
will be rough.
It is challenging to learn a new
language.
3. ‘It’ is used to
emphasise the subject of the main clause.
It was our friend, Joe, who told
us that the weather would be good for sailing today.
Is it December that you are going
to Korea?
It was not Ann that/whom I saw at
the library.
It was the nurses who checked on
the patients in the ward.
Let’s Practise.
Rewrite the sentences starting with ‘it’.
1.
Toby was very pleased to welcome his cousin to
his house.
It was with great
_________________________________________
2.
He was very unwilling to let the police officers
into his house to search the premises.
It was with great
_________________________________________
3.
She waited enthusiastically in line to meet the
Korean star.
It was with great
_________________________________________
4.
The person I met at the cafe was not John.
It was not
_______________________________________________
5.
The host accused the guests of stealing the
jewellery.
It was the host
__________________________________________
Answers:
1.
It was with great pleasure that Toby welcomed
his cousin to his house.
2.
It was with great unwillingness that he let the
police officers into his house to search the premises.
3.
It was with great enthusiasm that she waited in
line to meet the Korean star.
4.
It was not John whom/that I met at the cafe.
5.
It was the host who accused the guests of
stealing her jewellery.
There are, however, some problems starting a sentence with ‘it’.
1. The actual
subject of the sentence is lost or buried.
It is important to keep trying
after we make mistakes.
The real subject is ‘keep trying
after we make mistakes’.
By not telling the reader what
the real subject is immediately, the reader might be confused and will need
some time to fully understand the sentence.
2. We will be
writing more words than necessary.
It was a local artist who painted
this picture.
The information in the sentence
can be said in fewer words.
A local artist painted this
picture.
The teacher does not like it when
students are forgetful.
The information in the sentence
can be said in fewer words.
The teacher does not like forgetful
students.
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