Hi, 1 2 — used as subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a condition or action without reference to an agent <it is raining> 3 a — used as anticipatory subject or object of a verb <it is necessary to repeat the whole thing> ; often used to shift emphasis to a part of a statement other than the subject <it was in this city that the treaty was signed> b — used with many verbs as a direct object with little or no meaning <footed it back to camp> 4 — used to refer to an explicit or implicit state of affairs or circumstances <how is it going> [M-W's Col. ] What is the purpose of using those dashes above? Would it make any difference without them?
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