Definition of “It”
“It” is a third-person singular pronoun used to refer to objects, animals, ideas, or concepts that are non-human or gender-neutral. It serves as both a subject and object pronoun in a sentence. “It” is commonly used for things whose gender is either unknown or irrelevant and for inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
Uses of “It”
1. Referring to Objects or Things
“It” is often used to refer to inanimate objects or things without any specific gender. In these cases, “it” acts as a neutral pronoun.
- Examples:
- “It is raining.” (Referring to the weather)
- “Where is the book? I left it on the table.” (Referring to the book)
- “The car stopped working, and now it won’t start.”
2. Referring to Animals
When referring to an animal whose gender is unknown or irrelevant, “it” is commonly used. However, if the animal’s gender is known or the animal is treated with more familiarity, “he” or “she” may be used instead.
- Examples:
- “The dog is barking because it wants attention.”
- “Look at the bird! It’s flying so high.”
3. Referring to Abstract Concepts or Situations
“It” is often used to refer to abstract ideas or situations, such as time, weather, or facts that don’t have a clear subject.
- Examples:
- “It’s getting late.” (Referring to time)
- “It was a tough decision to make.” (Referring to an abstract situation)
- “It’s important to stay healthy.” (Referring to the general concept of health)
4. Expletive “It”
In some sentences, “it” functions as an expletive to fill a grammatical subject position, especially in weather, time, and distance expressions. This usage doesn’t refer to any specific object or thing but rather serves a grammatical role.
- Examples:
- “It’s snowing.” (Expletive use referring to weather)
- “It’s 10 o’clock.” (Expletive use referring to time)
- “It’s five miles to the nearest gas station.” (Expletive use referring to distance)
5. Referring to Events or Actions
“It” can also be used to refer to a previously mentioned event or action, summarizing a situation or experience.
- Examples:
- “I went to the concert, and it was amazing!” (Referring to the concert experience)
- “They tried to solve the problem, but it didn’t work.” (Referring to the attempt to solve the problem)
Grammatical Role of “It”
1. Subject Pronoun
“It” functions as a subject pronoun, meaning it is the doer of the action in a sentence. “It” is used when the subject is non-human, inanimate, or abstract.
- Examples:
- “It takes a lot of effort to learn a new language.”
- “It was a sunny day.”
2. Object Pronoun
“It” also functions as an object pronoun, meaning it is the receiver of the action in a sentence.
- Examples:
- “I found the phone and gave it to her.”
- “You’ll love the movie when you see it.”
3. Possessive Form: “Its”
The possessive form of “it” is “its,” which is used to show that something belongs to or is associated with an object, animal, or concept.
- Examples:
- “The company changed its policy last year.”
- “The tree lost its leaves in autumn.”
4. Reflexive Form: “Itself”
The reflexive form of “it” is “itself,” used when the subject and object refer to the same thing, indicating that the action is directed back to the subject.
- Examples:
- “The cat cleaned itself.”
- “The door closed by itself.”
Common Phrases with “It”
1. “It is what it is”
This phrase is used to express acceptance of a situation that cannot be changed, implying that one must accept the reality of the circumstances.
- Examples:
- “I wish things were different, but it is what it is.”
- “We can’t change the past, so it is what it is.”
2. “It’s up to you”
This phrase is used to tell someone that the decision or responsibility lies with them.
- Examples:
- “You can decide where we go for dinner—it’s up to you.”
- “It’s up to you whether you want to stay or leave.”
3. “Take it easy”
This is a common expression used to advise someone to relax or not to stress.
- Examples:
- “You’ve been working hard all day. Take it easy for a while.”
- “Take it easy, everything will be fine.”
4. “It’s about time”
This phrase is used to express that something long-awaited or overdue has finally happened.
- Examples:
- “It’s about time you showed up!”
- “It’s about time we took a vacation.”
Common Mistakes with “It”
1. Confusing “It’s” and “Its”
A common mistake is confusing “it’s” (the contraction of “it is”) with “its” (the possessive form of “it”). The apostrophe in “it’s” should only be used when it means “it is” or “it has.”
- Incorrect: “The dog wagged it’s tail.”
- Correct: “The dog wagged its tail.”
- Correct: “It’s going to be a sunny day.” (Contraction of “it is”)
2. Overuse of “It” as a Subject
In some writing, the overuse of “it” as a subject can make the sentence less clear or too vague. In some cases, rephrasing can improve clarity.
- Repetitive: “It was great because it was sunny, and it made us happy.”
- Better: “The sunny weather made the day great and lifted our spirits.”
Importance of “It” in Communication
“It” is an essential part of communication, allowing us to refer to non-human subjects, abstract concepts, or inanimate objects clearly and concisely. Its use is critical for referring back to previously mentioned ideas, situations, or objects, contributing to the coherence of both spoken and written communication.
Understanding how to use “it” and differentiate between its subject, object, possessive, and reflexive forms ensures that sentences are grammatically correct and that meaning is conveyed effectively.
Conclusion
“It” is a versatile third-person singular pronoun used to refer to objects, animals, concepts, or situations. It functions as both a subject and object in sentences and is essential for referring to gender-neutral or non-human subjects. Correct use of “it” and its related forms (its and itself) is important for clarity and grammatical accuracy in everyday communication.