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The Anticipatory (Introductory) Object It

The Anticipatory object it is used to fill the position of the real object which is placed in final position, i.e. at
the end of the sentence (postponed or apposed object) for reasons of emphasis or to make it easier to
understand. It is normally used after verbs expressing opinion (feel, find, judge, prove, regard – He found
it difficult to stop smoking). Real subject may be expressed by:

Infinitival clauses:
• I found it impossible to tell him the truth.
It think it fair to help the victims of the earthquake.

Gerundial clauses:
• I think it fair giving him another chance.
I find it unwise letting children have too much pocket-money.

Finite clauses (postponed object clauses):

• nominal clauses functioning as postponed object clauses are
normally introduced by that:
You should appreciate it that we are all nice to you.
He got it into his head that we were all against his proposal.
• since a that-clause cannot function directly as object to a
prepositional verb, the introductory object it is sometimes used. However, both the preposition and it may
be dropped in such cases:
You may depend (upon it) that he will keep his promise.
I rely (on it) that you will be there in time.
• occasionally a postponed object clause is introduced by if:
I’ll appreciate it if you do it without delay.

http://www.germanistika.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/extraposition.pdf
 
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Anticipatory Object "it"

Mary  W.  Ng  

The  personal  pronoun  it  functions  as  an  anticipatory  object  when  it  refers  to  a  deferred  object.  The  deferred  object  may  
be  an  infinitive  phrase,  a  gerund  phrase  or  a  that-­‐clause  that  comes  later  in  the  sentence.  

The  school  deemed  it  necessary  to  notify  his  parents.  (The  infinitie  phrase  to  notify  his  parents  is  the  deferred  object.  The  
pronoun  it  follows  the  verb  deemed.)  
I  take  it  that  you  want  to  volunteer.  (The  that-­‐clause  that  you  want  to  volunteer  is  the  deferred  object.  The  pronoun  it  
follows  the  verb  take.)  
He  sometimes  finds  it  difficult  working  with  other  actors.  (The  gerund  phrase  working  with  other  actors  is  the  deferred  
object.  The  pronoun  it  follows  the  verb  finds.)  
 
http://aimpublishing.com/aimpub/grammar-­‐anticipatory-­‐object-­‐it