It or There? Choosing the Right Subject

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It or There? Choosing the Right Subject

By the end: I can distinguish descriptions of conditions from statements that introduce something or someone.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Describe the room around you: what is in it, and what is it like?

Useful background: Be; there is/are; basic adjectives and pronouns.

Introduce something with there

There is or there are introduces the existence or presence of something. Choose is for a singular countable or uncountable noun and are for plural nouns in the careful model used here.

There’s a message for you.

There are two cafés near the station.

Preserved lesson scene for There are two cafés near the station. People and essential props isolated on white.
There are two cafés near the station.There introduces the existence of the two cafés.

Describe conditions with it

Use it for time, weather and distance without needing an earlier noun. English normally needs this subject even when some languages do not. Simple evaluations can also use it plus an adjective.

It’s nearly six o’clock.

It’s difficult to park here.

Refer back with it

It can also refer to a singular thing already introduced. First establish that something exists, then describe it. Do not confuse introductory there with a place expression meaning in that location.

There’s a small garden. It’s very quiet.

There was a delay. It lasted twenty minutes.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Compare the meaning and form; the model is one possible answer.

1. Complete: ___ are three messages on your phone.

Compare a model and explanation

There

The sentence introduces the presence of messages.

2. Complete: ___ is raining.

Compare a model and explanation

It

Weather requires the dummy subject it here.

3. Complete: There’s a new café. ___ opens at seven.

Compare a model and explanation

It

It refers to the introduced singular café.

4. Correct the careful plural form: There is two people outside.

Compare a model and explanation

There are two people outside.

Use are with the plural subject phrase in the careful model.

5. Complete: ___ is a long way to the station.

Compare a model and explanation

It

This is a distance description rather than an introduction of an object.

6. Complete: ___ is a problem with the screen.

Compare a model and explanation

There

The sentence introduces a problem.

7. Explain the difference: There is a quiet room. / It is a quiet room.

Compare a model and explanation

The first introduces a room; the second describes an already identified room or thing.

Context determines whether a referent has been established.

8. Write a two-sentence update about a delay, using there and then it.

Compare a model and explanation

There was a delay at the entrance. It lasted about ten minutes.

Establish the event before referring back to it.

A short conversation

Listen first if you can, then open the transcript when useful.

Open the conversation transcript

A: Is there a quiet place to work here?

B: Yes, there’s a reading room upstairs. It’s usually empty in the morning.

A: Is it easy to find?

B: Yes. There are signs by the stairs, and it’s the first door on the left.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have their own score.

1. What does it refer to?
Read the listening transcript

There’s a new message on the screen. It’s from the course organiser.

2. What does the first it express?
Read the listening transcript

It’s getting late, and there are no buses after eleven.

3. What has been resolved?
Read the listening transcript

There was a small problem with the door, but it is fixed now.

Preserved lesson scene for It's cold today. People and essential props isolated on white.
It’s cold today.It supplies the subject when describing a weather condition.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer in each situation. Your score is out of eight.

1. Complete: ___ are four windows in the room.
2. Complete: ___ is windy today.
3. A café has already been introduced. Complete: ___ closes at eight.
4. Complete: ___ is a mistake in the last sentence.
5. Choose the careful plural model.
6. Complete a time expression: ___ is half past six.
7. Choose the coherent sequence introducing and describing a room.
8. What does there do in There is a note on your desk?

Use it in your own words

Speaking task 1

Describe a fictional study space. Introduce three features with there and describe at least one using it.

Reveal a possible response

There is a small desk by the window. There are two shelves and a lamp. The room is simple, but it’s quiet and easy to work there.

Success check: Introduce objects clearly and use it only with a recoverable referent or a dummy-subject pattern.

Speaking task 2

Give a visitor a short update about the time, weather and available transport.

Reveal a possible response

It’s nearly ten, and it’s raining. There are still two buses this evening, but there isn’t a taxi outside at the moment.

Success check: Distinguish general conditions from existence and availability.

Speaking task 3

Correct a confusing description: It is a room upstairs. There is quiet. Explain your revision.

Reveal a possible response

There is a room upstairs, and it is quiet. I used there to introduce the room and it to describe that same room.

Success check: Explain the function of the subject rather than memorising a translation.

Take it with you

I can distinguish descriptions of conditions from statements that introduce something or someone.

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