Dummy subjects: there & it — forms, meaning & common traps
B2 Pre-Advanced
THERE + be + noun (existence)
Use there as a preparatory subject to say that something exists/occurs. The real subject follows be.
- There are several messages on your desk.
- There used to be a cinema here.
Any tense, voice, or modal
- There will be delays tonight.
- There has been remarkable progress.
- There might be a better option.
- There’s going to be heavy traffic.
Agreement: the verb agrees with the real subject — There is a file / There are two files; There have been complaints.
Useful patterns with there
- seem/tend + to be: There seems to be no alternative. / There tends to be confusion at first.
- likely/sure/bound + to be: There is likely to be a price rise.
- used to: There used to be a library; neg. There didn’t use to be any cafés.
Fixed expressions
- There is no use/point (in) + -ing: There’s no point in arguing.
- There is no need + to-inf / for + noun: There’s no need to panic. / There’s no need for an apology.
IT as a preparatory subject
Time • weather • temperature • distance
- It’s nearly noon. / It’s Thursday.
- It’s raining. / It’s 34°C today.
- It’s only two kilometres to the lake.
Referring back
- I like your proposal. It sounds ambitious.
- I watched a documentary. It was inspiring.
Common it structures
- it + be/seem + adj + to-inf: It’s hard to find parking. / It seems impossible to leave now.
- it + be + noun + to-inf: It would be a pleasure to host you.
- it + be + adj/noun + that-clause: It’s likely that they’ll cancel. / It’s a pity that you can’t join us.
- it takes + time + to-inf: It takes me 20 minutes to get to work.
- Cleft sentences (focus/emphasis): It was Maria who called. / It was in Paris that they met.
THERE vs IT — choose the right dummy subject
| Use | Pattern | Example | Not this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence / presence | there + be + noun | There is a problem with the invoice. | ✖ It is a problem with the invoice (≠ existence; this identifies). |
| Weather/Time | it + be | It’s windy. / It’s midnight. | ✖ There is windy / midnight. |
| Evaluation of an action | it + be + adj + to-inf | It’s essential to back up your files. | ✖ There is essential to back up… |
| Probability with nouns | there + be + likely/sure/bound + to be | There is likely to be disruption. | ✖ There likely is to be disruption. |
Style tip: In speech, you may hear There’s with plurals (There’s two keys). Keep agreement in careful writing: There are two keys.
It’s no use vs There’s no use
- It’s no use arguing with him.
- There’s no use (in) arguing with him.
Both are acceptable with use/point. Choose one style and be consistent.
Exercises:
Dummy subjects “there” and “it”
Choose the correct form of there and it to complete the sentences below.
1
three issues we need to discuss.
2
was raining heavily last night.
3
takes about forty minutes to get to the airport at this hour.
4
I expect
to be delays on the route.
5
a change in policy recently.
6
a misunderstanding.
7
no point in arguing; let’s move on.
8
was only after midnight that we got a taxi.
9
used to be a cinema on this corner.
10
From my window,
looks as if the storm is clearing.
Dummy subjects “there” and “it”
Complete the sentences using there and it.
1
____ is no point in arguing; the decision has been made.
A.
B.
C.
2
____ seems that the server is down again.
A.
B.
C.
3
____ are three files missing from the folder.
A.
B.
C.
4
____ was Maria who spotted the typo in the contract.
A.
B.
C.
5
____ takes about twenty minutes to get to the station.
A.
B.
C.
6
Is ____ any chance we can reschedule for Monday?
A.
B.
C.
7
____ has been a misunderstanding about the deadline.
A.
B.
C.
8
____ was surprising to see how quickly they adapted.
A.
B.
C.
9
____ used to be a cinema on this corner.
A.
B.
C.
10
____ is likely to be further rain this evening.
A.
B.
C.
Dummy subjects “there” and “it”
Fill in the gaps with there or it.
1
seems that the figures were misreported.
2
appears to be a misunderstanding about the schedule.
3
is no point arguing about this now.
4
was raining hard by the time we left.
5
have been several complaints this week.
6
takes about an hour to get downtown.
7
was the clarity of her argument that persuaded the jury.
8
seems unlikely that prices will fall this quarter.
9
used to be a cinema on this corner.
10
is essential to back up your files regularly.