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Debpriya De Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Prop it
"It is my birthday today."
In the above sentence, is "it" an "anticipatory it" acting as a provisional subject for the noun "today" or is "it" a "prop it" with "today" as an adverb ?
In the above sentence, is "it" an "anticipatory it" acting as a provisional subject for the noun "today" or is "it" a "prop it" with "today" as an adverb ?
Top answer
I think it's anticipatory: Today is my birthday.
- I think it's anticipatory: Today is my birthday.
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4 Answers
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Then what is the role of "it" in "It is my brother's birthday next week" ?
This is the one that really confuses me.
This is the one that really confuses me.
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When I say that one to myself, it seems more like a prop 'it' with 'next week' adverbial. The two sentences have different 'rings'.
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In your sentence "it" is called "prop-it" or "dummy-it". It has no meaning whatsoever. It's used only to comply with the prnnciple that finite verbs in English must always have a subject.
Besides, anticipatory subject "it" does not anticipate noun phrases. It only anticipates a real subject with the following categories:
- noun clause: It is true that she did it
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