The Impersonal “It”
The personal pronoun “it” is used in many ways in English.
It is used as an “empty” subject (with no real meaning) in expressions referring to time,
weather and temperature. Look at the following examples and contrast them with the
Spanish structure.
It’s eight o’clock. (Use of pronoun is Son las ocho en punto. (Tacit subject, no
mandatory) pronoun)
It’s Monday. Es lunes.
It rained last weekend. Llovió el fin de semana pasado.
It can be very warm in September. Puede hacer mucho calor en septiembre.
It can be used as an “introductory” or “preparatory” subject or object. Here are some
examples:
It’s difficult to remember all their names.
He made it clear that he didn’t want to speak to me.
It can mean “the present situation.”
I have so much work I don’t know where to start. It’s awful!
It’s lovely in here! Let’s stay here.
It can refer to a person when we are identifying somebody (saying who somebody is).
“Who’s that?” – “It’s John.”
A very attractive young woman stood up and shook hands with them. It was Miss
Universe.
Students of English whose first language is Spanish sometimes tend to leave out the
pronoun “it,” but it cannot be left out. Compare:
Incorrect: Correct:
*Is raining. It’s raining.
*She loved the picture because was She loved the picture because it was
beautiful. beautiful.
“Have some chocolate.” – “No, I don’t “Have some chocolate.” – “No, I don’t like
like.” it.”
Notice that the subject pronoun “it” (like any other subject pronoun) cannot normally be
used if there is already a subject in the sentence.
Incorrect: Correct:
* My house it is beautiful. My house is beautiful.
* The weather it is hot. The weather is hot.
* She loves it the car. She loves the car.
The Imperative
In expressions like Have a drink, Come here, Sleep well, the verb forms have, come, and sleep can
be called “imperatives.” The imperative has exactly the same form as the infinitive without to
(base form of the verb); it is used for giving orders, making suggestions, and encouraging people to
do things. Note the following points:
1. The imperative does not usually have a subject, but it can be used with one (a noun or pronoun)
if it is necessary to make it clear who is being spoken to.
- Mary come here; the rest of you stay where you are.
- Somebody answer the phone!
- Nobody move.
- Relax, everybody.
2. An imperative can be made more emphatic by putting do before it. This often happens in polite
requests, complaints and apologies.
- Do sit down.
- Do forgive me – I didn’t mean to interrupt.
- Do try to make less noise, children.
3. Negative imperatives are constructed with do not (or don’t).
- Don’t worry.
- Do not lean out of the window.
4. Always and never come before imperatives.
- Always remember to smile.
- Never speak to me like that again.
The English imperative structure is simpler than its equivalent in the Spanish language, which has
several forms. Compare:
English Spanish
Please clean your room! ¡Por favor limpia tu cuarto! (informal –
speaking to one person)
¡Por favor limpie su cuarto! (formal – speaking
to one person)
¡Por favor limpien su cuarto! (speaking to
more than one person)
¡Por favor limpiad vuestro cuarto! (speaking to
more than one person, Spanish from Spain
only)
