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sentences.
2. The formal subject
it is introductory (anticipatory) if it introduces the notional
subject expressed by an infinitive, a gerund, an infinitive/gerundial phrase, a predicative complex, or a clause.
The sentence thus contains two subjects: the formal (introductory) subject it and the notional subject, which
follows the predicate.
It’s impossible to deny this.
It thrilled her to be invited there.
It gave him a pain in the head to walk.
It was no good coming there again.
It would be wonderful for you to stay with us.
It was lucky that she agreed to undertake the job.
It did not occur to her that the idea was his.
Sentences with introductory it can be transformed into sentences with the notional subject in its usual
position before the predicate.
It was impossible to deny this ——> To deny this was impossible.
The difference between the two structural types lies in that the pattern with the introductory subject
accentuates the idea expressed by the notional subject, whereas the pattern without it accentuates the idea
expressed in the predicate.
Sentences with introductory it must be distinguished from certain patterns of sentences with impersonal it:
a) sentences with the predicate expressed by the verbs to seem, to appear, to happen, to turn out followed by
a clause, as in It seemed that he didn’t know the place.
In these sentences describing a certain state of affairs it is impersonal, not introductory and the clause is a
predicative one. So it cannot fill the position of the subject:
It seemed that he did not know the place —/—> That he did not know the place seemed. (Transformation is
impossible)
b) sentences with predicative adjectives preceded by too and followed by an infinitive as in It was too late to
start.
Here it is used in sentences describing time, etc. and is therefore impersonal. The infinitive is an adverbial of
consequence, not the subject, and so cannot be placed before the predicate:
It was too late to start —/—> To start was too late.
c) sentences with the predicative expressed by the noun time followed by an infinitive, as in It was high time
to take their departure.
In such sentences it is also impersonal, the infinitives being attributes to the noun time. These sentences
cannot therefore undergo the transformation which is possible in the case of sentences with introductory it:
It was time to take their departure ?/> To take their departure was time.
Thus, the subject it may be personal, impersonal, and introductory. In the latter two cases it is formal, (see
the scheme after § 45).
The formal subject there
§ 45. Sentences with a notional subject introduced by there express the existence or coming into existence of
a person or non-person denoted by the subject. Such sentences may be called existential sentences or sentences
of presentation. They are employed where the subject presents some new idea or the most important piece of