Monday, April 23, 2012

7. INTRODUCTORY “IT”


introductory is a word when used in sentence, do not influence the sentences meaning, because it’s meaning have been contained by other sentence element.

Examples:   A. To understand this lesson is easy
B. It is easy to understand this lesson
C. This lesson is easy to understand 

In this pattern, it has no meaning. It is used only to fill the subject position in the sentence. Thus, it is called introductory “it”.
A and B mean the same thing, but sentence B is more common and useful than A. A was introduce mainly to make the meaning of C easier to understand.

Use “introductory it”

1.    As a subject (the place for “it’ in subject position)
·        IT + TO BE+ ADJECTIVE ………….
-         It is not difficult to understand the lesson.
-         It would be nice seeing him again.
·        IT + TO BE+ NOUN………
-         It is a pity to spend the money that way.
-         It is a difficult thing doing everything by yourself.
·        IT + LINKING VERB + ADJECTIVE ……………….
-         It became useless to go on.
-         It appears no good cheating on the test.
·        IT + VERB + THAT CLAUSE………..
-         It seems that she was sick.
-         It happened that I was not out of town.

2.    As an object (in object position)
·        SUBJECT + VERB + IT+ ADJECTIVE
-         I think it wrong to cheat in the examination.
-         I found it easy to get the best score for English.

The introductory it is applied as an object of such verbs as think, feel, count, consider.

·        The uses of “it”
a)   The use of “it” in sentences about time and weather.
·        IT + BE + NOUN PHRASE
-         It is ten o’clock.
-         It is Saturday today.
·        IT + BE + ADJECTIVE
-         It is late.
-         It is nice today.
·        IT + VERB
-         It rains in the rainy season.
-         It snows in the winter.

b)   The use of “it” in the sentence about distance.
EXAMPLE 1 :
-         From Madiun to Ngawi is 500 miles.
-         It is 500 miles from Madiun to Ngawi.
EXAMPLE 2:
-         From here to Matahari Plaza is 200 meters
-         It is 200 meters from here to Matahari Plaza, or
-         It is 200 meters to Matahari Plaza.

c)   Another ruses of “it”
1.    TO INFINITIVE + VERB 1
-         To understand this lesson is easy.
-         This lesson is easy to understand.
-         It is easy to understand this lesson.
2.    BEING/VERB-ING
-         Being a good student is important.
-         It is important to be a good student.
-         Playing football is fun.
-         It is fun to play football.
3.    SHOULD
-         Parents should take care their children.
-         It is important for parents to take care their children.

·        The introductory it is sometimes used in questions
-         Who was it that broke the window?
Ø  It is Peter who broke the window.
-         When was it that the manager came?
Ø  It was at 10 a.m. that the manager came.

·        Use ” introductory it” with seem, appear, and look . The “introductory it” used with these verbs when the subject sits in an infinitive phrase, clause, or a phrase with a gerund. For example :
v It looked unlikely that the train would stop.
v It appeared sensible to take the dog out of the shop.
v It seemed logical putting the horse back in the stable.
v It looks like he is going to leave now.

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