It ...: start
In this lesson
Point A of 3
it for time, day, distance and weather
In these sentences it does not mean a thing. It simply fills the subject position, which English will not leave empty.
| Topic | Examples |
|---|---|
| time | What time is it? It's quarter to six. It's early. It's time for bed. |
| day | What day is it? It's Monday. It's 9 October. It was Bonfire Night on Sunday. |
| distance | It's two miles from the school to the leisure centre. How far is it from Leeds to York? |
| weather | It's snowing. It isn't raining. Is it windy? It rains a lot in Wales. |
With distance, use far in questions and negatives (is it far? it isn't far). In positive sentences, use a long way (it's a long way).
Weather adjectives work the same way: it's warm / hot / cold / fine / cloudy / windy / sunny / foggy / dark, and so on.
Compare it and there for weather. With it, use a verb or an adjective. With there, use a noun.
| it | there |
|---|---|
| It snows a lot in the Pennines. | There's a lot of snow in the Pennines. |
| It was very foggy this morning. | There was thick fog this morning. |
- "What time is it?" "It's quarter to six."
- It's time for bed.
- It was Bonfire Night on Sunday.
- It's two miles from the school to the leisure centre.
- It's quite a trek from the car park to the beach.
- We can cycle there. It isn't far.
- It rains a lot in Wales. It didn't rain once last week, which nobody believes.
- It's a lovely day today.
Point A · Exercise 39.1 · part 1 of 2
What is the weather like in each scene? Write a sentence with It's ... .
Example
A bright sun in a clear blue sky over a beach.
It's sunny.
AnswerIt's sunny.White flakes are falling on the roofs and the cars.
.
AnswerIt's snowing.A road where you cannot see the cars ahead because of thick grey air.
.
AnswerIt's foggy.Trees are bending and a man's umbrella has turned inside out.
.
AnswerIt's windy.Water is falling from dark clouds and people are running for the bus shelter.
.
AnswerIt's raining.
Point A · Exercise 39.1 · part 2 of 2
What is the weather like in each scene? Write a sentence with It's ... .
Two people in thick coats, hats and scarves, with a thermometer showing minus five.
.
AnswerIt's cold.
Point A · Exercise 39.2 · part 1 of 2
Put in it is (it's) or is it.
Example
What time is it in Sydney now?
AnswerWhat time is it in Sydney now?Come on, we need to leave. nearly midnight.
AnswerCome on, we need to leave. It's nearly midnight.true that your sister plays the bagpipes?
AnswerIs it true that your sister plays the bagpipes?"What date today? The third?" "No, the fourth."
Answer"What date is it today? The third?" "No, it's the fourth."about two miles from the station to the football ground.
AnswerIt's about two miles from the station to the football ground.
Point A · Exercise 39.2 · part 2 of 2
Put in it is (it's) or is it.
possible to park near the theatre?
AnswerIs it possible to park near the theatre?"Shall we cycle to the lake?" "Maybe. How far ?"
Answer"Shall we cycle to the lake?" "Maybe. How far is it?"my grandad's birthday today. He's ninety.
AnswerIt's my grandad's birthday today. He's ninety.Two goals in one minute! unbelievable.
AnswerTwo goals in one minute! It's unbelievable.
Point A · Exercise 39.3
Write questions with How far ... ?
Example
(the hotel / the beach)
How far is it from the hotel to the beach?
AnswerHow far is it from the hotel to the beach?(the campsite / the lake)
AnswerHow far is it from the campsite to the lake?(Manchester / Liverpool)
AnswerHow far is it from Manchester to Liverpool?(your flat / the hospital)
AnswerHow far is it from your flat to the hospital?
Point B of 3
It's nice to ... etc.
It's + adjective + to + verb.
Useful adjectives here: easy / difficult / hard / impossible / dangerous / safe / expensive / interesting / nice / lovely / wonderful / terrible.
In these sentences, it stands for the part with to. In It's lovely to see you, the lovely thing is to see you.
- It's great to hear from you. (it = to hear from you)
- It's hard to read his handwriting. (it = to read his handwriting)
- It wasn't easy to find a parking space. (it = to find a parking space)
Point B · Exercise 39.5 · part 1 of 2
Complete the sentences with it's + an adjective + to + a phrase. Choose from the boxes.
Use these
easyhardlovelyimpossibleinterestingexpensivemake friendsget to sleephear from youpark in the town centrelearn new thingsget a taxi home
Example
If you drink coffee late at night, it's hard to get to sleep.
AnswerIf you drink coffee late at night, it's hard to get to sleep.Thanks for your letter, Gran. . How's the garden?
AnswerThanks for your letter, Gran. It's lovely to hear from you. How's the garden?. The car parks are always full.
AnswerIt's impossible to park in the town centre. The car parks are always full.Everybody at my new college is very friendly. .
AnswerEverybody at my new college is very friendly. It's easy to make friends.I enjoy my evening classes. .
AnswerI enjoy my evening classes. It's interesting to learn new things.
Point B · Exercise 39.5 · part 2 of 2
Complete the sentences with it's + an adjective + to + a phrase. Choose from the boxes.
Use these
easyhardlovelyimpossibleinterestingexpensivemake friendsget to sleephear from youpark in the town centrelearn new thingsget a taxi home
Taxis cost a fortune in this city. after midnight.
AnswerTaxis cost a fortune in this city. It's expensive to get a taxi home after midnight.
Point C of 3
Do not leave out it
A sentence needs a subject. Where the subject is it, it must be said, even though it carries no meaning of its own.
- It's snowing again. (not Is snowing again.)
- Is it true that the chippy is closing? (not Is true that ...)
Point C · Extra practice
Put in it. Do not leave it out.
raining. Take a coat.
AnswerIt's raining. Take a coat.Is far to the station?
AnswerIs it far to the station?was very cold last night.
AnswerIt was very cold last night.
Put it together · Exercise 39.4 · part 1 of 2
Put in it or there.
Example
It snows a lot in the hills.
AnswerIt snows a lot in the hills.Example
There was a lot of thunder last night.
AnswerThere was a lot of thunder last night.was a lovely evening yesterday.
AnswerIt was a lovely evening yesterday.We can't go sailing. isn't any wind.
AnswerWe can't go sailing. There isn't any wind.'s freezing in this kitchen. Shut the back door.
AnswerIt's freezing in this kitchen. Shut the back door.I didn't want to walk home because was so foggy.
AnswerI didn't want to walk home because it was so foggy.
Put it together · Exercise 39.4 · part 2 of 2
Put in it or there.
was a big storm on Tuesday night. Did it wake you up?
AnswerThere was a big storm on Tuesday night. Did it wake you up?'s quite a walk from the flat to the nearest shop.
AnswerIt's quite a walk from the flat to the nearest shop.
Lesson 39 · Result
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