Impersonal “It” and “There”
Introduction
In many kinds of English sentences, you will find the word “it” or the word “there” in the subject position. These are usually “impersonal” sentences — sentences where there is no natural subject. This introduction will help you to understand when to use “it” and when to use “there”.
1. Impersonal “it”
| When to use it | Examples |
|---|---|
| Talking about weather | It’s raining. It’s cold. It was sunny yesterday. |
| Identifying something | “Who is it?” “It’s me.” “What is it?” “It’s a cat.” |
| Talking about time | “What time is it?” “It’s five o’clock.” “What day is it?” “It’s Thursday.” |
| Talking about distance | “How far is it to Toronto?” “It’s 4000 kilometers.” |
2. Impersonal “there”
Impersonal “there” is used to say that something exists in a particular place:
| Singular | There is a book on the table. |
|---|---|
| Plural | There are three men in the car. |
When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.