INTRODUCTORY "IT"

First, let's see the comparing two sentences below:

“I liked the book and bought it”
- I : subject
- Liked : predicate/verb
- The book : object
- And : conjunction
- Bought : predicate/verb
- It : pronoun, replacing “the book”
It in the first sentence replace the book

“ It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice”
It in the second sentence refers to nothing or meaningless. It is used to complete the structure of a sentence which is Subject + Predicate + Object/Complement. we called “it” as introductory it or Impersonal it.
Impersonal “it” can be used to introduce time, weather, distance, condition etc.

When the subject is an infinitive phrase, the sentence often begins with it. Instead of saying ‘To find fault with others is easy’, we say, ‘It is easy to find fault with others’. More examples are given below.

• It is easy to learn English. (More natural than ‘To learn English is easy’.)
• It was not easy to understand his motive.
• It may be advisable to consult a specialist.
• It could be dangerous to drive so fast.
• It was pleasant to sit on the beach.

However, when we want to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning especially if it is short.

• To err is human.
• To withdraw now will be sheer folly.

When the subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. Instead of saying ‘Your trying to deceive us is no good’, we may say "It is no good your trying to deceive us".

• Will it be any good my talking to him about it?
• It is no use arguing with him.
• It won’t be much good complaining to the officer about it.

Note that the gerund can be changed into the infinitive.

• Will it be any good for me to talk to him about it?

When the subject is a clause, the sentence usually begins with it. So instead of saying ‘That he was once a communist is true’, we say, ‘It is true that he was once a communist’.

• It does not matter whether he comes or not. (Whether he comes or not does not matter.)

• It is required that he should pay the fine. (That he should pay the fine is required.)

• It is clear that he overheard our conversation. (That he overheard our conversation is clear.)

• It is clear that you are not interested in this offer. (That you are not interested in the offer is clear.)

• It cannot be denied that they tried their best to help him. (That they tried their best to help him cannot be denied. )

• It doesn’t matter whether we buy it now or later. (Whether we buy it now or later does not matter. )

Introductory it with seem, appear and look

Introductory it is also used with seem, appear and look when the subject is an infinitive phrase, a phrase with a gerund in it or a clause.

1. It looked doubtful whether she would come 
2. It seemed strange that she should behave like that.  
3. It seems possible that she may quit the job.  
4. It appeared unwise to offend him. 
5. It does not seem much good going on with the work.

Introductory it as an object

It is sometimes used as the object of the verbs think, feel, deem, count, consider etc.

1. Don’t you think it dangerous to drive so carelessly? 
2. I consider it a privilege to have this opportunity of welcoming you.
3. I think it odd that she doesn’t write to me these days.
4. I think it a pity that she could not win.
5. We think it improper that he should be so dictatorial. 
6. He made it clear what he wanted. 
7. I find it difficult to talk to him.

Introductory it in questions

The introductory it is sometimes used in questions.

1. Who was it that broke the window? 
2. It is Peter who broke the window.
3. Why was it that he stole the bread?
4. It was because he was poor that he stole the bread.
5. When was it that the manager came? 
6. It was at 10 am that the manager came.

THE PLACE FOR “IT”

1. In subject position
• IT + TO BE + ADJECTIVE ....

- It is not difficult to understand the lesson.
- It would be nice seeing him again
• IT + TO BE + NOUN ....

- It is a pity to spend the money that way
- It is a difficult thing doing everything by yourself
• IT + LINKING VERB + ADJECTIVE....

- It became useless to go on
- It appears no good cheating on the test
• IT + VERB + THAT CLAUSE ....

- It seems that she was sick
- It happened that I was not out of town

2. In object position
• SUBJECT + VERB + IT + ADJECTIVE
- I think it wrong to cheat in the examination
- I found it easy to get the best score for English

THE USES OF “IT”

a. The use of “it” in sentences about time and weather

     > It + be + Noun Phrase:

     -It is ten o’clock                             -It is Saturday
     > It + be + adjective :

     -It is late                                           -It is nice today
     > It + verb :

     -It rains in the rainy season     -It snows in the winter
 
b. The use of it in sentences about distance
Examples :
    - From Madiun to Ngawi is 500 miles

    -> It is 500 miles from Madiun to Ngawi
    - From here to Matahari Plaza is 200 meters

    -> It is 200 meters from here to Matahari Plaza
 
c. Another uses of “it”

  1. To infinitive (to + V1)
   -To understand this lesson is easy
   -> It is easy to understand this lesson

  2. Being /V-ing
   - Being a good student is important
   -> It is important to be a good student
   - Playing football is fun
   -> It is fun to play football

  3. Should

   - Parents should take care their children

   -> It is important for parents to take care their children

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