Beginner 📐 Grammar · #212 of 305

Pronoun: It for Weather and Time

Use it as an empty subject for weather, time and distance.

Examples

  • It is raining.
  • It is five o'clock.

Key rules

  • Use it as an empty subject for weather, time, dates, distance and temperature
  • English needs a subject, so do not leave it out
  • Use it is + time (It is 5 o'clock) and It takes + time (It takes an hour)
  • It is not a real thing here and cannot be replaced by a noun

Common mistakes

  • Is raining → It is raining
  • Today is cold → It is cold today
💡 Tip: Never start a weather sentence with the verb alone.
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Related Beginner topics

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Nouns: Naming Words

A noun names a person, place, thing or idea.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Add -s to most nouns; add -es after s, x, ch, sh.

Irregular Plurals

Some nouns change form instead of adding -s.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted; uncountable ones cannot take a/an or plural.

Proper and Common Nouns

Proper nouns name specific things and start with a capital letter.

Subject Pronouns

I, you, he, she, it, we, they replace the subject.