It / There

A clause always has a subject.

Her grandmother has just retired. Was an accountant.     =>     She was an accountant.
I’m cooking for my sister. Is sick.      =>       She is sick.
Look at the sky! Is very sunny.     =>     It’s very sunny.

Except Imperative Sentences

Come back tomorrow.
Say that again.

In case there is no other subject, use there or it.

THERE

Use there as an empty subject, followed by the verb be and then a noun phrase.

• use when introducing a new topic

There is a conference this week. It will start on Monday.
There has been a mistake. I hope this gets corrected.

• use with numbers or quantities

There was a lot of people at the museum yesterday.
There must have been more than twenty thousand fans who watched the concert.

• use when talking about location

There used to be a big oak tree on this spot.
There are cookies on the jar.
I hope there will be someone at his house later.

• use with indefinite pronoun or to express quantity and the to-infinitive

There is nothing to see at the exhibit.
There was a lot to do in my previous project.
There was nothing to learn in that class.
There are a lot of things to discuss.

• use “for” to show the subject of the to-infinitive

There is nothing for the team members to discuss in the meeting.
There was plenty for them to play with in the nursery.
There was nothing for him to do at his grandparents’.
There are a lot of questions for you to answer.

• use with an indefinite pronoun or when expressing quantity and an -ing verb

There is someone calling to talk to you.
There were a lot of babies crying and shouting.

If the noun phrase is singular, use a singular verb.

There is an exam today.
There were a lot of people at the stadium.
There is someone calling to talk to you.

If the noun phrase is plural, use a plural verb.

There are more than two dishes to cook.
There were some papers on the table.
There were a lot of guests singing and dancing.

IT

Use it when talking about:

• times and dates

It’s almost six o’clock.
It’s 18th of July.

• weather:

It’s snowing.
It’s a very windy day.
It was getting warm.

• when giving an opinion about a place

It’s very dark in here.
It will be better when we get to our destination.
It’s very warm in his room.

• when giving an opinion followed by to-infinitive:

It’s good to talk to you.
It will be nice to spend the weekend on the beach.
It was interesting to learn about proper driving techniques.

• when giving an opinion followed by an -ing verb:

It’s fun spending time with friends.
It’s horrible driving at night.
It can be hard taking care of a sick baby.

Use it when talking about people.

Use it when talking about ourselves.

• when talking on the phone

Good day. It’s Elizabeth.

• when people cannot see you

[Anne knocks on the door] It’s me. It’s Anne.

Use it to talk about other people:

• when pointing them out for the first time:

Look. It’s Beyonce!
Who is she? I think it’s Adam’s boss.

• when we cannot see them and we ask them for their name:

[when the phone rings and you pick it up]

Hello. Who is it?

[when someone knocks on your door]

Who is it?