Need help. Grammar doubt.

Hi Thinking Spain,

In my opinion it is a provisional subject here.

And one more thing: You have mentioned about common noun. It looks as if you think 'it' cannot refer to a common noun.

Is it?

vsureshAnd one more thing: You have mentioned about common noun. It looks as if you think 'it' cannot refer to a common noun.

Hi vsuresh

No at all. In fact 'woman' is a common noun. That's why I've said if 'it' subtitutes 'that woman'.

By the way, there's an email in my profile. You can write me there if you wish.

TS

Thinking SpainDo we use 'It' in the answer because we are substituting 'that woman' which is a comon noun? Is that so?

I don't think so. The pronomial substitute for "that woman" as a sentence subject is "she".

For example, we might say,

That woman is pretty, isn't she?

But not

*That woman is pretty, isn't it?

Hi Thinking Spain

I agree with Jim

I would call it the "idiomatic it". It looks as if it is used to refer back to another noun but, in fact, it is just being used to give shape to the sentence. It is used in very general situations..

- Oh, look who it is - it's Mrs Elsie

- What's the weather like outside?

- It's snowing

- How is Mrs Elsie?

Hi CalifJim

What is your opinion about it being the provisional subject in the sentence 'It is Elsa'?

Suresh

vsureshHi CalifJim
What is your opinion about it being the provisional subject in the sentence 'It is Elsa'?

Suresh

I don't think that's the right explanation either!

A provisional subject is one that stands in the position of a subject because the true subject has been postponed to a later part of the sentence. For example,

It is very kind of you for a detailed explanation. I thoroughly agree with your reasoning.

Thank you for your effort.

What do you think is the role of 'it' in the sentence? And what part of speech is 'it' here?

Suresh

Hi dave_anon,

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it.

TS

HI CalifJIm,

Could this be an explanation to 'it'?

We use 'it' to refer to a person when we are identifying him or her.

Who's that man over there? It's john Cook. (Not 'He's John Cook')

Is that our waiter? No, it isn't. (Not, 'No, he isn't')

On the phone. Hello. It's Alan Williams. (Not .. I'm Alan Williams.)

It's your sister who

Hi

I'll post briefly again, and then bow out!

The identifying idea is good but it doesn't explain why the idiomatic "it" is used to refer to weather conditions or other general physical situations..

- It's snowing!

There just isn't anything that is doing the snowing: nor anything that I am identifying as doing the snowing

Before I said that I couldn't