Empty Subject "IT"

We often use IT in some sentences referring to


TIME
THE WEATHER
TEMPERATURE
DISTANCE.

When used in this way, IT is called EMPTY because it carries no real information. IT is present since every English sentence has to contain a subject.



TIME: It is 9 pm.

WEATHER: It is hot.

TEMPERATURE: It is 37° Celsius.



DISTANCE: It is twenty miles from London.




Adapted from: Alexander, L.G. (1990) Longman English Grammar. p.78London:Longman.