Dummy and Expletive Pronouns: Dummy 'It' and Anticipatory 'There'
Have you ever wondered why we say "It is raining" when there is no "it" that is raining? Or why we say "There is a problem" instead of "A problem is"? In English, every sentence needs a subject. When a sentence doesn't have a natural subject (like "Ravi" or "the car"), we use a grammatical placeholder. These placeholders are called dummy pronouns or expletive pronouns. They fill a slot in the sentence without actually referring to any specific noun. Let's learn how to use dummy "it" and anticipatory "there" to build natural, fluent English sentences.
Dummy and Expletive Pronouns (like it and there) fill the grammatical subject position in a sentence but carry no lexical meaning. They are used purely for structural accuracy.
1. Dummy 'It' for Weather, Time & Distance
When discussing weather, time, or distance, we use it as an empty subject because there is no tangible "doer" of the action.
✅ It is raining heavily in Mumbai today.
✅ It gets dark by 6 PM in winter.
✅ It is 400 km from Delhi to Agra.
❌ Is raining heavily in Mumbai. (Missing subject)
2. Anticipatory 'It' (Extraposition)
In formal writing (like IELTS essays), we often avoid starting sentences with long, complex clauses. Instead, we postpone the "real" subject to the end of the sentence and start with an anticipatory it.
✅ It is important to read the instructions carefully. (The real subject is "to read the instructions carefully")
✅ It is surprising that she resigned from Infosys. (The real subject is "that she resigned")
✅ It appears that there is a technical problem.
Common Structure: It + linking verb + adjective/noun + infinitive OR that-clause
3. 'It' in Cleft Sentences
We can also use "it" to focus on or emphasize a specific part of a sentence. This is called a cleft sentence.
✅ It was Priya who solved the software bug, not Amit.
✅ It is the government that must act immediately to reduce pollution.
4. Existential 'There' (Anticipatory 'There')
We use existential there to introduce new information, state that something exists, or mention something indefinitely for the first time.
When using existential "there," the verb must agree with the real subject that comes after the verb.
| Usage Context | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Basic Existence | There is a mistake in the report. / There are three applicants. |
| With Modals | There must be an error in the calculation. / There could be delays in delivery. |
| In Questions | Is there any problem? / Are there enough rooms at the hotel? |
| Perfect Tenses | There has been an accident on the highway. / There have been several complaints. |
In formal writing, you can replace "there is/are" with stronger verbs:
✅ There exists no valid reason for this delay.
✅ There remains much to be done before the launch.
5. Locative 'There' vs. Existential 'There'
Don't confuse existential "there" (which introduces existence) with locative "there" (which points to a physical location).
- Locative 'There': Please stand there. (Points to a place)
- Existential 'There': There is a new café in Bandra. (Introduces an entity; it doesn't mean the café is "over there")
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Indian learners often make these specific errors with dummy pronouns. Let's fix them!
❌ There is many problems with the new policy. (Wrong agreement)
✅ There are many problems with the new policy.
❌ "It is raining." — 'It' refers to the sky.
✅ False. 'It' is just a grammatical filler and doesn't refer to anything.
❌ It is important that for her to come. (Mixed structures)
✅ It is important that she comes. OR It is important for her to come.
✏️ Quick Practice — Fill in the Blanks
- ________ is about 150 km from Mumbai to Pune.
- ________ have been multiple requests for a deadline extension.
- Choose the correct form: (There is / There are) a few discrepancies in the financial audit.
Answers: 1. It | 2. There | 3. There are
Summary & Key Takeaways
- Dummy pronouns fill the subject slot without providing meaning.
- Use dummy "it" for weather, time, distance, cleft sentences, and extraposition (postponing the real subject).
- Use existential "there" to introduce the existence of something new.
- Always match the verb after "there" with the noun that follows it (e.g., There are mistakes).
Next Step: Apply what you've learned in your daily writing and take our interactive practice tests to solidify your understanding!