Language Focus: Grammar
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 465.
Emphasis (preparatory it)
1)
1 read through the text below and underline all the examples of the pronoun it. Think about how each one is used.
| Paul stood up and looked out over the beach towards the sea. It was noon, and the sun was directly overhead, blazing down on the blue sea and rows of sunbathers. Far away on the horizon he could just see the big yacht. He followed it with his eyes until it disappeared over the horizon, then picked up his bag and started to walk slowly back towards the road. It was not going to be easy to accustom himself to living an ordinary life after the last two weeks. He found it incredible that only the previous day he had been sitting on that same yacht. Now it was easy to see that Juliana and Carlos had never really regarded him as a friend. They had been amused by him, but that was all. |
2 Now match the examples you have underlined to the following used of it.
1 It referring back to something that has already been mentioned.
2 It acting as a preparatory subject, referring forwards to a phrase later in the sentence.
3 It acting as a preparatory object, referring forwards to a phrase later in the sentence.
4 It acting as an ‘empty' or ‘dummy' subject, it does not refer to any word or phrase in the text.
2) It as preparatory subject
This structure is often used to postpone the subject of a sentence to a later position, especially if the subject is a long phrase. It may also be used to place important or new information at the end of the sentence.
Underline the words or phrases acting as subject in the following sentences. Then rewrite each sentence replacing the subject with It and make any other structural changes necessary. Decide which version sounds better, and why.
1 For the young consumer to understand the difference between an advert and a programme on the television takes until the age of about six.
2 Monitoring what their children eat, drink or play with is the responsibility of parents.
3 Advertising should be legal if selling is legal.
4 That children are not able to strike a free bargain with advertisers is obvious.
5 To suggest that children can't deal with ads is insulting.
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