The word “it” is often misused in English. It’s important to understand how and where to use it correctly in order to avoid ambiguity and confusion. For example, you should never use it’s to ascribe ownership. Instead, you should use its when referring to something that is specific or has a clear definition.
Use of It in English Grammar : Details explanation with Examples
Use of It : To Refer to a Thing or Animal (Singular)
Use “it” to replace a singular noun that is not a person.
Examples:
- I have a book. It is very interesting.
- This is my dog. It is very friendly.
Use of It : Weather, Time, Distance, or Temperature
This is called a dummy subject. “It” does not refer to anything specific.
Examples:
- It is raining.
- It is 7 o’clock.
- It is 5 miles from here.
- It is very hot today.
Use of It : To Introduce a Situation or Fact
Used to start a sentence when the real subject comes later.
Examples:
- It is important to study daily.
- It seems that she is tired.
- It is difficult to learn a new language.
Use of It : To Emphasize a Part of the Sentence (Cleft Sentences)
This structure is used for focus or emphasis.
Examples:
- It was John who broke the glass.
- It is the final exam that worries me.
Use of It : As an Object Pronoun
“It” can act as the object of a verb.
Examples:
- I saw a bird. I followed it.
- Do you like the song? I love it!
Summary
50 Sentences Using “It”
• It is raining outside.
• I found a coin. It is shiny.
• It is very cold today.
• The dog is barking. It sounds angry.
• I have a pencil. It is blue.
• It is 8 o’clock now.
• I saw a film. It was exciting.
• It is easy to learn English.
• The cake is ready. Cut it.
• It is not my fault.
• It looks like a beautiful day.
• I opened the box. It was empty.
• This is my phone. Use it.
• It is important to be honest.
• The sun is bright. It hurts my eyes.
• The light is on. Turn it off.
• It is too late to go out.
• It was raining when I left.
• The baby is crying. It must be hungry.
• The road is long. It never ends.
• It is time to sleep.
• My computer is slow. I need to replace it.
• It was a great day at the park.
• This is a problem. Fix it.
• It is fun to play games.
• That sound? It scared me.
• The story is true. I believe it.
• It smells so good in the kitchen!
• The water is hot. Don’t touch it.
• It is my birthday today.
• The window is broken. Repair it.
• It is hard to say goodbye.
• I made a mistake. I regret it.
• It is a beautiful painting.
• The milk is cold. Drink it.
• It is too dark in here.
• The movie is long, but it is worth watching.
• It was a mistake to trust him.
• The apple is sweet. I love it.
• It is good to exercise daily.
• I heard a sound. It came from the attic.
• It feels great to win.
• This bag is heavy. Carry it carefully.
• It is my favorite song.
• It is not safe to cross the road here.
• The moon is full. It looks magical.
• It is time for lunch.
• I saw a tiger. It looked fierce.
• It is strange to see snow in April.
• The book is amazing. Read it!
More Explanation –
It is a subject and object pronoun
When it comes to English grammar, it’s important to know the difference between subject and object pronouns. The subject of a sentence is the person or thing doing the action that the verb describes, and the object is the person or thing being acted upon. The subject and the object are often nouns, but they can also be personal pronouns like he, she, and we.
English object pronouns have two forms – direct objects and indirect objects. They are used when a noun acts as the subject of a verb or as the object of a preposition. They can also be used to replace nouns that are the direct or indirect object of a clause. It is helpful to memorize the different forms of English object pronouns to make them easier to use in sentences. Practice by rewriting sentences from your Duolingo lessons and replacing the nouns with pronouns. You can try this with a friend or colleague to make sure that you are understanding these concepts correctly.
It is a dummy subject
Dummy subjects, such as ‘it’ and ‘there,’ function as grammatical placeholders in English sentences. They are used to fill the subject slot when a real subject isn’t required or when a sentence refers to an abstract idea or unspecified situation. In addition, they can help writers avoid awkward phrasing while maintaining the flow of their writing.
Dummies subjects are especially useful when describing weather, time, and other impersonal situations that don’t have a specific subject. For example, a sentence such as “It’s raining” is more concise and grammatically correct than a sentence such as “There are some clouds in the sky.”
While dummy subjects may seem unnecessary to some writers, they are essential for smooth, readable, and grammatically sound content. However, they must be used sparingly to keep writing clear and engaging. Otherwise, they can be distracting and cause confusion for readers. Incorporating dummy subjects correctly will enhance the clarity and flow of your sentences, while also maintaining grammatical accuracy.
It is a dummy object
In some cases, ‘it’ serves as a dummy object to fill in gaps in sentence structure. This is often done to avoid repetition. It is often used to talk about weather conditions, dates, and other events that have no subject. It is also used as a dummy object when talking about distance, such as the example above.
This is called ‘ambient it’, and it refers to nothing in particular but serves to fill in the grammatical needs of a sentence. It is very common in Gullah, and may be a remnant of plantation creole. Similarly, ‘there’ is a dummy object in SAE and can be used to indicate the presence of something or someone.
It is a linking verb
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence with descriptive information that follows it. This information can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. There are several linking verbs, but the most common are be, seem, and become. Some other verbs can also act as linking verbs, including grow and smell.
Linking verbs are used to describe a subject’s state or condition. They are different from action verbs, which express an action. Often, sensory verbs like appear, feel, look, sound, or smell act as linking verbs when describing a subject’s sensation. Other linking verbs include become, come, grow, and turn. Some auxiliary verbs can also act as linking verbs, such as forms of “to be” in continuous tenses. For example, the fire engine sounds an alarm to move traffic aside. But is it an action or a linking verb? To find out, try replacing the subject with an auxiliary verb and see if the sentence makes sense.
Use of “It” in English Grammar – Worksheet
Fill in the blanks with “it”
- I have a cat. _ is black.
- _ is very hot today.
- My phone is old, but _ still works.
- I saw a movie yesterday. _ was amazing!
- _ is raining outside.
- Where is the pen? I kept _ here.
- _ is time to go home.
- I bought a new dress. Do you like _?
- My bag is missing. Have you seen _?
- _ is 5 o’clock now.
- I love this song. Play _ again!
- The bird flew away. Did you see _?
- _ is hard to understand him.
- I don’t know what day _ is today.
- Your gift is ready. Come and get _!
- Look at that tree. _ is so tall!
- _ is Sunday today.
- I heard a noise. What was _?
- Don’t touch that! _ is hot.
- _ is important to be honest.