INTRODUCTORY IT

C1
 IT as introductory subject
1. We use it as introductory subject to avoid beginning a sentence with an
in nitive or -ing form

It would probably be unwise to visit Venice in the autumn.

It’s been lovely having you to stay with us

2. We use it as introductory subject when the subject of a clause is another

clause.

It’s terrible just how manu young people are unemployed

fi
3. We also use it as introductory subject in other types os sentences.

It’s likely that his plane will be delayed

It’s always a relief when the cool changes arrives.

 IT as introductory object
• In the structure: subject + verb + it+ adjective+ in nitive/clause

I nd it very strange the way you never tell me where you are going

They made it perfectly clear that they wanted a window and an asile seat on
the plane.
fi
fi
 IT in cleft sentence
We use it to emphasize a relative clause by diving the sentence into two parts. We
also call these sentence “ cleft sentence”. For example:

Julia gave Sally a bag for her birthday, we could use introductory it to emphasize
di erent elements in the sentence for example:

Julia — It was Julia who gave Sally a bag for her birthday

a bag— It was a bag that Julia gave Sally for her birthday

Sally— It was Sally who Julia gave a bag

Structure: it+ to be+ complement+ who/that+ sentence

ff