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Imantaghavi Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Preparatory "It"(2)

Hi,

What is the role of preparatory "it" in the following sentence?

"The weather men think it likely that there will be storms tonight."

Is that adjective or adverb?And Why?

Thank you in advance,

Iman
  

Top answer

I would call it an objective expletive pronoun, used as a placeholder for think .

— RandomGuy

  • I would call it an objective expletive pronoun, used as a placeholder for think .
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5 Answers
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I would call it an objective expletive pronoun, used as a placeholder for think.
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I'm so sorry Aspara.I made a big mistake. I meant "likely" not "it". What's the role of "likely"?

Regards,

Iman
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It's an adjective. Try replacing it with an adverb. It won't work.

*The weather men think it possibly that there will be storms tonight.
The weather men think it possible that there will be storms tonight.

Likely
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Thanks a million Aspara.Is adjective the only choice as complement in these kind of sentences( Preparatory "it" as object)?

Thank you in advance,

Iman
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A noun could also be used in the sentence.

The weather men think it a possibility that there will be storms tonight.
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