Intermediate English Grammar for ESL Learners - Robin Torres-Gouzerh 2016
Impersonal subjects
21 Filler subjects and impersonal subjects
Besides being the personal pronoun that replaces a neuter singular noun, it is also used as the subject of the verb be, and occasionally of become. In such combinations, it forms an impersonal subject. The meaning of sentences with impersonal subjects gives the responsibility of the condition described in the sentence to it, a mysterious, unknown subject.
It will be sunny tomorrow.
It is very nice in Kingston, Jamaica.
It was too hot in that room.
It will become clear before too long.
When it is used as the personal pronoun replacement of a noun, its meaning is quite different. The impersonal subject, however, doesn’t replace a noun. Compare the two uses of it.
PRONOUN REPLACEMENT
The house burned down. It burned down.
This essay by Einstein is hard to understand. It is hard to understand. The struggle for peace never ends. It never ends.
IMPERSONAL SUBJECT
It was too late to go.
It became quite chilly.
Was it as humid last summer as it is this summer?
A subject repeated in consecutive sentences sounds awkward. This is true whether the subject is a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun.
The girls didn’t dance. The girls didn’t sing.
Speaking rudely to a professor is a mistake. Speaking rudely to a professor can get you in trouble.
It rained. It thundered. It poured for hours.
Conjunctions are used to combine such sentences and avoid repeated subjects.
The girls didn’t dance or sing.
Speaking rudely to a professor is a mistake and can get you in trouble.
It rained, thundered, and poured for hours.
Exercise 21.2 Complete each sentence with one of the following: an appropriate personal pronoun, there, or it.
Example My mom is a good leader. She is someone I look up to.
1. These youth summer camps really had an impact on my teenage years. ... helped to make me who I am today.
2. Volunteers work very hard, and humanitarian organizations appreciate them very much. Usually, ... become very close to the people ... work with.
3. Yesterday, ... rained for over five hours.
4. In Switzerland, ... is essential to speak French to get a job that pays well.
5. At the county jail, ... are a lot of teacher volunteers who can help inmates prepare for exams.
6. My teacher tries to help us understand. For example, in math class ... often spends a long time on complicated equations.
7. I come from Spain. There ... take three-hour lunch breaks.
8. Stress is awful. Actually, ... is one of the most negative feelings someone could have.
9. I see you have a new car. When did you buy ...?
10. I believe ... was in 1929 when ... happened.
Exercise 21.3 Fill in the blanks with it or there.
My cabin is in the back of the boat. It is a small cabin, but it is very cozy.
In addition to a single bunk bed and a minuscule dresser, ... is a small desk in the corner of the cabin. On the bed ... is a plaid bedspread. When ... is raining, is prohibited to open the window. When ... is sunny, I can look out the window and see the ocean for miles and miles. isn’t much room for anything in the cabin, but I don’t mind it. While the cabin is very little, to me ... seems perfect.
Exercise 21.4 Decide if the italicized word it in each sentence is a personal pronoun (PP) or an impersonal pronoun (IP), then write PP or IP in the blank.
Example When it started to rain, we ran for the shelter. IP
1. He bought an old camera in Seattle. He found it in an antique shop downtown.
2. We stayed in a motel that night. When we got up the next day, it had begun to snow.
3. This article on chemistry was good. It was rather easy reading.
4. The streets are so confusing. It was rather easy to get lost.
5. It sleeted all night long. ... It wasn’t until morning that we saw how slick the streets had become.