Use it in a simple sentence

It - English Grammar Today

Grammar > Nouns, pronouns and determiners > Pronouns > It

We commonly use the pronoun it as both a subject and an object pronoun:

Don’t drink the milk. It smells terrible.

Has anyone seen my phone? I can’t find it anywhere.

We often use it in question tags:

That furniture is lovely. It isn’t too expensive for us, is it?

You know the flat with three bedrooms by the supermarket? It’s the best one we’ve seen so far, isn’t it?

See also:

• Tags

• It, this and that in paragraphs

We can use it as an ‘empty’ subject or as an ‘empty’ object. It is ‘empty’ because it doesn’t refer to anything in particular:

I know it’s going to rain today!

It’s getting a bit late now, so let’s watch a DVD at home, shall we?

She doesn’t like it when you are so quiet.

How long will it be before he gives up smoking?

We also use it to introduce or ‘anticipate’ the subject or object of a sentence, especially when the subject or object of the sentence is a clause. Most commonly, such clauses are to + infinitive and that clauses. We also call this use of it a ‘dummy’ subject, since the real subject is another part of the sentence (real subject underlined):

It’s good that she’s doing more exercise. (or, more formally: That she’s doing more exercise is good.)

It was nice to talk with them again. (or, more formally: To talk with them again was nice.)

It’s quite likely that we shall be late, so please do start without us.

With verbs such as find or consider, it + adjective + that clause or it + adjective + to infinitive, are commonly used to anticipate an object:

I find it amazing that they’ve never stopped arguing about football.

Not: I find amazing that they’ve …

I must say, local people will consider it to be an insult that they have not learned to speak a few words of the language.

I find it surprising to see so many people here.

We also use it when a clause is the subject of a verb such as appear, seem, look, occur, which hedge or soften the statement, making it less direct:

It seems they’ve all lost contact since they met at the wedding.

It occurred to me that we might visit them while we are in South Africa.

See also:

• Hedges (just)

We use it in cleft sentences. It emphasises the subject or object of the main clause:

It was his sister who ran the marathon in New York, wasn’t it?

[talking about a computer problem]

Was it the printer that caused the problem?

It was Mary they promoted, not Laura.

See also:

• Cleft sentences (It was in June we got married.)

It is common with the passive voice. It makes the sentence seem less personal and more objective:

It was decided that we should all swim across the lake before breakfast.

It is accepted that research into cancer has advanced considerably in the last few years.

See also:

• Passive: active and passive

• 01 Intonation
• 02 Table of irregular verbs
• 03 At, on and in (place)
• 04 Either … or…
• 05 Other, others, the other or another?

• 06 Which
• 07 Since
• 08 Comparison: adjectives (bigger, biggest, more interesting)
• 09 As, because or since?
• 10 Look forward to

English Sentences with Audio Using the Word "It"

I got it.

I use it.

It's new.

I mean it!

It is new.

It's cold.

It's easy.

It's late.

It's work.

Fill it up.

I'll do it.

Is it free?

Is that it?

It's my CD.

It's on me.

This is it.

I'll get it.

It may rain.

It's 50 yen.

It's cloudy.

It's Monday.

It's my job.

Turn it off.

I've seen it.

It was night.

It's amazing.

It's too big.

Make it real.

Play it cool.

Take it easy.

Try it again.

Who built it?

I've found it.

It hurts here.

It is raining.

It won't hurt.

It's all over.

It's business.

It's my treat.

It's too loud.

Don't touch it.

Give it to her.

Give it to him.

I don't get it.

I'll see to it.

Isn't it black?

It's all white.

It's hot today.

It's too large.

It's too small.

It's up to you.

It's very cold.

It's your book.

It's your move.

It's your turn.

Leave it to me.

Say it clearly.

Can you find it?

Great, isn't it?

I can't hear it.

I didn't see it.

I don't need it.

I think it's OK.

It doesn't hurt.

It is seven now.

It is up to you.

It snowed a lot.

It's a nice day.

It's a surprise.

It's about time.

It's fine today.

What time is it?

He gave it to me.

I didn't like it.

It's a windy day.

It's just a cold.

It's now my turn.

Try it once more.

Whose turn is it?

Can you handle it?

Do it by yourself.

I have to find it.

It has cooled off.

It's a cloudy day.

It's a short walk.

It's an old piano.

It's dark outside.

It's going nicely!

It's my brother's.

It's not my fault.

It's now or never.

It's time for bed.

May I put it here?

What does it mean?

You can't miss it.

Fill it up, please.

It is a long story.

It is almost three.

It looks like rain.

It's fun to travel.

It's raining again!

She gave it to him.

She made him do it.

They gave it to me.

When does it begin?

Where does it hurt?

Will it rain today?

You should know it.

How did you make it?

I like it very much.

I must have lost it.

I will try it again.

Is it far from here?

Is it Japanese food?

It is going to snow.

It rained yesterday.

It serves you right.

It was getting dark.

It was really cheap.

It wasn't expensive.

It'll rain for sure.

It'll snow tomorrow.

It's free of charge.

It's Saturday today.

It's time to get up.

Let's call it a day.

Try it out yourself.

When did you buy it?

When does it arrive?

Don't worry about it.

Everyone's saying it.

Go and see who it is.

It may rain tomorrow.

It pays to be polite.

It was hot yesterday.

It's a beautiful day.

It's a good question.

It's a piece of cake.

It's all Greek to me.

It's all over for us.

It's an easy victory.

It's behind schedule.

It's my CD, isn't it?

It's noisy next door.

It's perfectly white.

It's time for dinner.

She tried it herself.

Show me how it works.

When was it finished?

Who put you up to it?

He is unable to do it.

How long does it take?

How long will it take?

I bought it last week.

I'd bet my life on it.

Is it near your house?

It frosted last night.

It is very cold today.

It seems warm outside.

It was a terrible day.

It was hot last night.

It was very difficult.

It will snow tomorrow.

It won't take so long.

It'll definitely rain.

It's been a long time.

It's my favorite food.

It's my favorite song.

It's really hot there.

May I do it right now?

Please think about it.

That's good, isn't it?

This is how I made it.

Whose turn is it next?

Will it rain tomorrow?

Don't let him touch it.

Give it to me straight.

I know you can make it.

I'm sick of hearing it.

It doesn't surprise me.

It looks like an apple.

It was a very big room.

It's across the street.

It's ahead of schedule.

It's October the third.

It's ten o'clock sharp.

It's time for us to go.

It's time to go to bed.

Let's get it over with.

Let's leave it at that.

May I put it down here?

That's cheap, isn't it?

That's right, isn't it?

You like it, don't you?

Beautiful day, isn't it?

Charge it to my account.

Do you know who made it?

Don't put it on my desk.

Don't put it on my desk.

Don't take it out on me.

We know Russian: a tricky comma - when should we put it? .

Simply put, the question of where to put a comma, whether it is needed here or not, and if it is needed, then why, causes great difficulties for most writers. One gets the impression that they did not study this section of the Russian language either at school or at the university, and they put punctuation marks where there is a pause in the language - that’s where they strive to “stick” their “hook”. But the language is not so simple - it has its own rules. "MIR 24" decided to recall some features of the punctuation of the Russian language.

Punctuation is understood as a system of punctuation marks in the written language, the rules for their setting in written speech, as well as a section of grammar that studies these rules. Punctuation makes the syntactic and intonational structure of speech clear, highlighting individual sentences and members of sentences. This greatly facilitates the oral reproduction of the written.

The comma (along with the colon and dash) is the most complex punctuation mark. In order to understand whether a comma is placed in this particular sentence, you need to remember a few simple rules. In writing, this sign is used to highlight and isolate participial and participle phrases, definitions, isolations, appeals, interjections, clarifications and, of course, introductory words.

Also, a comma is used to separate between direct and indirect speech, between parts of a complex, complex and compound sentence, homogeneous members of a sentence.

This punctuation mark is placed either singly or in pairs. Single commas serve to divide the whole sentence into parts, separate these parts, marking their boundaries. For example, in a complex sentence, it is necessary to separate two simple parts, and in a simple one, homogeneous members of the sentence, which are used in the enumeration. Paired commas highlight an independent part of the sentence, marking the boundaries on both sides. On both sides, participial and adverbial phrases, introductory words, and appeals in the middle of a sentence are most often distinguished. To understand where commas are placed, remember a few rules.

The main thing is the meaning

The most important thing is to understand the meaning of the sentence to understand the meaning of the sentence. One of the functions of punctuation marks is to convey the correct semantics. If a comma is placed in the wrong place, the meaning is instantly distorted and a comic effect appears. For example: "Yesterday I entertained my sister who was sick of playing the guitar."

To isolate an independent part of a sentence, read the sentence without this part. If the meaning of the sentence is clear, then the removed part is independent. Commas, as a rule, always distinguish adverbial phrases, introductory sentences and words. For example: "The other day it became known that my friend, returning from vacation, forgot her phone in the train car. " If we remove the adverbial phrase from this sentence, then its meaning will hardly change: “The other day it became known that my friend forgot her phone in the train car.”

However, there are cases when the gerund adjoins the predicate and in its meaning becomes similar to the adverb. In such cases, single participles are not distinguished by commas. “What, sir, are you crying? Live laughing ”(A.S. Griboyedov). If the gerund participle is removed from this sentence, it will become incomprehensible.

Insidious treatment

The appeal is always separated by commas in sentences. If it is in the middle or at the end of a sentence, it is not very easy to determine it. For example: Tell me, boy, is it far from the city? Wife, you are wrong when you say that Lionel Messi is not a football genius. Well, didn’t you pay attention, sister, that the clock hanging on the wall stopped.

Let's compare

In almost all cases, a comma is placed when it comes to comparative revolutions. It is easy to find in a sentence, mainly due to conjunctions like, exactly, like, like, like, rather than than, etc. However, there are exceptions. Comparative turns are not distinguished if they are phraseological units. For example: He fell through the ground. The rain pours like a bucket and so on.

Between like members

A comma is placed between homogeneous members, but not always. A comma is necessary for conjunctions - such as a, yes, but, but, however. Also, a comma is needed between homogeneous members that are connected by repeating unions (and ... and, or ... or, not that ... not that, either ... or). No need to put a comma between homogeneous members that are connected by single unions yes, and, either, or. In addition, repeating unions in front of homogeneous members of the sentence will help determine where commas are placed.

Difficulties occur when homogeneous and heterogeneous definitions come across. A comma is necessary between homogeneous definitions. For example: an interesting, fascinating book . With heterogeneous definitions, a comma is not necessary: ​​ is an interesting philosophical novel. The word "interesting" in this phrase expresses an impression, and "philosophical" means that the novel belongs to a certain genre.

Borders of simple sentences

In complex sentences, a comma is placed before coordinating conjunctions. These are alliances like and, yes, or, either, yes and. The main thing here is to correctly determine where one simple sentence ends and another begins. To do this, you need to find a grammatical basis in each of them (subjects and predicates) or divide a complex sentence by meaning.

Defined word in participial phrase

A comma is placed in sentences with participial phrase, but also not always. The main thing here is to remember that participles are isolated only if they are after the word being defined. The word being defined is the one from which the question is asked to the participial turnover. For example: The bus at the bus stop broke down. If this does not happen, the comma is not needed: The bus at the bus stop has broken down.

A comma is always placed before oppositional conjunctions - but, yes, but.

Oh, those interjections

Comma statements require affirmative, interrogative, negative words, as well as interjections. A comma is always placed after the interjection: "Competent speech, alas, is a rarity these days" . But from here, not everything is so simple. Interjection must be distinguished from particles such as oh, oh, well - they are used for amplification, as well as particles about , used when addressing. "What are you doing!" , "O cover your pale feet!" (V. Bryusov).

Here, of course, everything is very schematic and brief - Russian punctuation is much more complex and richer. But even these tips, I hope, will help to write correctly and put commas where they are justified by the rules, and not use them where they are not needed. I wish you success in mastering the “great and mighty” and I remind you:

How to pronounce, speak and write correctly - the program “Know Russian” will test your knowledge and teach you. The new season is on the air of the MIR TV channel from September 3. The program will be aired on button 18 on Sundays at 7:20.

Every week, viewers will be able to learn more and more interesting facts about the "great and mighty". The program will be hosted by the charismatic Sergei Fedorov, who promises to fill the program not only with intelligence, but also with sparkling humor.

Ivan Rakovich

A comma before the union “I”

Crap 1 of 2

Union “I” can connect, firstly , homogeneous members of the proposal, second , simple sentences as part of a complex one.

To correctly place a comma before the union "and", it is necessary to distinguish the structure of a compound sentence from a simple sentence with homogeneous predicates or subjects. Therefore, first we recall the definitions of a simple and compound sentences.

Compound sentence - a sentence in which two or more grammatical bases are connected by coordinating conjunctions (for example, and, a, but, however, or , etc.)

A simple sentence is a sentence with one grammatical basis.

Sentences with homogeneous predicates that form a coordinating link are not complex.

For example: Heat and fatigue took, however, their , and I fell into a dead sleep (two bases, compound sentence). The huge and dazzlingly bright moon was already above the mountain and flooded the city with a clear greenish light (one stem - subject and two predicates related to it, simple sentence).

For example: And the birch is nice even in the sun , and on a gray day , and in the rain.

2) connects more than two homogeneous members.

For example: In the forest alone it is noisy , and creepy , and sad , and fun.

The comma is NOT SET if homogeneous members are connected in pairs (pairs are separated from each other).

For example: In Crete they lived freely and cheerfully, wide open and open.

Placement of a comma before the union "And", connecting simple sentences as part of a complex

A comma IS PUT if

1) simple sentences are combined as part of a compound: [ ], and [ ].

For example: A thunderstorm was approaching , and the clouds covered the whole sky.

2) after the subordinate part of the sentence, the second part of the double union TO, HOW or BUT follows:0119 and when he got into cab , then ordered to raise the top.