It seems (true) that he has problems

Question

Teachers, please explain this empty it sentence. I thought that this was a case of Empty it, and today read some strange explanation. It says that in this sentence, " It seems that he has problems.", 'it' means that clause(he has problems), as in "It is important to work hard."

I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Teachers, please explain this empty it sentence. I thought that this was a case of Empty it, and today read some strange explanation. It says that in this sentence, " It seems that he has problems.", 'it' means that clause(he has problems), as in "It is important to work hard."

I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

Hi,

First of all I'd change the name of the 'empty it' into the introductory it. We use such a preparatory subject (introductory 'it') when the subject of the sentence is a clause or an infinitive. In such cases we put the infinitive or the clause at the end of the sentence which, at the same time, is introduced by the preparatory subject 'it'. Now, in the sentence "It is important to work hard" the real subject is 'to work hard' but it would be awkward to create a sentence with such a subject coming before the verb 'is' : "To work hard is important", so instead of that we start the sentence with the pronoun 'it', as a preparatory subject, followed by the adjectival complement 'important' and the infinitive phrase 'to work hard'. In the sentence "It seems that he has problems." the real subject is the that -clause 'he has problems' but again the clumsy construction "That he has problems seems (to be) apparent" makes us use the introductory 'it' as a 'dummy' subject.

CalifJim · Answer

BamtoriIt says that in this sentence, " It seems that he has problems.", 'it' means that clause(he has problems), as in "It is important to work hard."

I think they're saying that "it" is a substitute for something that comes later in the sentence.

It is important to work hard.

It = To work hard

So

To work hard is important.
_________

Likewise (I believe they are saying)

It seems that he has problems.

It = That he has problems.

So

*That he has problems seems.
________

Although To work hard is important is grammatical, *That he has problems seems is not grammatical, so I don't really understand the explanation that you read. The underlying reason for the use of it in one sentence doesn't apply to the other sentence in exactly the same way.

In It seems that he has problems, It is "empty it" (also called "dummy it") regardless of the explanation.

CJ

Bamtori · Answer

Thanks so much for your explanations, Anonymous and Jim, and I've got another problem I need your help with. When you say, " It seems like everybody knows you.", is the subject 'it' means 'everybody knows you'?

It = like everybody knows you

I read here on some posts that in this case 'it' means the situation.

Thanks!

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks so much for your explanations, Anonymous and Jim, and I've got another problem I need your help with. When you say, " It seems like everybody knows you.", is the subject 'it' means 'everybody knows you'?

It = like everybody knows you

I read here on some posts that in this case 'it' means the situation.

Thanks!

Yes, "It = like everybody knows you".

It seems (true) that he has problems <--Correct??

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