0
Ruttonjee Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

preparatory subject: it

0Hi there,02br
02br
00I read an explanation on IT in Michael Swan's Practical English Usage. But I don't understand his explanation. Below is his:02br
02br
00 00Clause subjects02br
02br
00We also normally use preparatory01i00 it02i00 when the subject of a clause is itself another clause.02br
02br
01b00It’02b00s probable01b00 that we’ll be a little late.02b02br
02br
01b00It02b00 does not interest me 01b00what you think02b00.02br
02br
01b00It02b00 is surprising 01b00how many unhappy marriages there are02b00.02br
02br
01b00It02b00 is exciting 01b00when a baby starts talking02b00.02br
02br
01b00It 02b00is essential 01b00that she should be told immediately02b00.02br
02br
00I still don't understand the meaning and function 'it' in these examples. What do those 'it' refer to in the examples. Take example 1 and 2 as examples, can I change them as follows?02br
02br
00 That we'll be a little late is probable. 02br
02br
00What you think does not interest me.02br
02br
00If yes, how about the following ones:02br
02br
01b00It02b00 seems 01b00that he forgot to buy the tickets.02b02br
02br
01b00It 02b00is said 01b00that only three people in the world can understand his theory02b00.02br
02br
02br
02br
00I can't say: That he forgot to buy the tickets seems02br
02br
00AND That only three people in the world can understand his theory is said.02br
02br
02br
02br
00Simon0-
  

Top answer

1font 00That he forgot to buy the tickets seems. 00 02font 02br 02font 0-

— Marius Hancu

  • 1font 00That he forgot to buy the tickets seems.
  • 00 02font 02br 02font 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

12 Answers
0
1font00That he forgot to buy the tickets seems. 02br
02font02br
02br
01font00AND 02br
02font02br
02br
01font00That only three people in the world can understand his theory is said.02br
02font02br
02br
01f
0
0
0Hello Ruttonjee02br
02br
00The first thing to look at is the 01i00role02i00 of a preparatory (or "anticipatory") "it". 02br
02br
00Take this sentence:02br
02br
001. 01u00That we’ll be a little late02u00 is probable.02br
02br
00The underlined portion is the subject of "is
0
0
1b00Hi there,02b02br
02br
01b00What does mean by 'it' in the following sentences:02b02br
02br
01b00It02b00 seems 01b00that he forgot to buy the tickets.02b02br
02br
01b00It 02b00is said 01b00that only three people in the world can understan
0
0
0 01b00What does mean by 'it' in the following sentences:02b00 01b02br
02br
00 It02b00 seems 01b00that he forgot to buy the tickets.02br
02b01font00The situation seems to be01b00 that 02b00that he forgot to buy the tickets.02br
00We think that
0
0
0Hi there,02br
02br
00Thanks a lot. But I still don't understand the second example: It is said that...02br
02br
00Why do we simply say that people say that blah blah instead of using IT?02br
02br
00Simon0-
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Ruttonjee12cite10If yes, how about the following ones: 12br
12br
11b10It12b10 seems 11b10that he forgot to buy the tickets.12b12br
12br
11b10It 12b10is said 11b10that only three people in the world can understand his theory
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Ruttonjee12cite10Why do we simply say that people say that blah blah instead of using IT?12blockquote
10You can express the idea any way you like, but people tend to simplify their speech in most cases. To say "It's said..." is shorter than "People say... ", so that's why the first one is more common, I guess.
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Ruttonjee12cite10 Why do we simply say that people say that blah blah instead of using IT?12blockquote
12br
01b00It02b00 leads to an impersonal expression (It is said), the subject is abstract (It). 02br
01b00People02b00 leads to a a more personal expre
0
0
0 Other (more complicated) ways of saying the same, just for you to see other "translations": 01b02br
02br
00 It 02b00seems01b02br
00 There exists02b00 this situation in which he appearances are that ...01b02br
02b02br
00 It 00is said02br
01b00There exists02b
0
0
0Hi there02br
02br
00thanks a lot02br
02br
00simon0-
0

Related Questions