it */*/*/

UK [ɪt] / US pronoun

Summary:

It can be used as the subject, object, or complement of a verb or the object of a preposition.

1) referring to something that has been mentioned

a) used for referring to a thing, situation, place, animal etc when it has already been mentioned or when it is obvious which one you are referring to

I can't find my ticket. I think I must have lost it.

Don't do it again.

Her dog was howling at the door, so he let it in.

You should come to Rome – it's a wonderful city.

If you'd come along and support us, we'd really appreciate it.

b) used for referring to a baby or very young child when it has already been mentioned, or when it is obvious which one you are referring to

Is it a boy or a girl?

2) used as the subjectobject of a sentence

a) used instead of the subject of a sentence, when the real subject is a phrase or clause at the end of the sentence

It's nice to be home again.

It's strange that she never mentioned the wedding.

It annoys me to hear people blaming everything on the government.

It's always sad saying goodbye to someone you love.

b) used after a verb in place of the object, when the real object is a phrase or clause at the end of the sentence

The new law made it easier to get a divorce.

I find it amazing that anyone should want to listen to such rubbish.

3) referring to someone's life or situation used for referring to someone's life, work, or general situation

What's it like in the army these days?

He's been having it pretty easy up to now.

4) talking about weather conditions used for talking about the weather, the temperature, or the light

It rained in the night.

It's a glorious day.

It's cooler indoors.

It gets dark at around five.

5) talking about times and dates used for saying or asking what the time, day, or date is

"What time is it?" "It's four o'clock."

It was nearly midnight when we got home.

It was 1985, and Sally had just graduated from high school.

Thank goodness it's Saturday tomorrow.

6) talking about distance used for saying how large a distance is

It's about ten miles from here to Plymouth.

7) emphasizing who or what you mean used with the verb "to be" for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular person, thing, time, or place

It's your brother I want to speak to.

It was a year ago today that I started working here.

8) spoken saying or asking who someone is used for telling someone who you are, or asking who someone else is, especially on the telephone

Hello, it's me, Geoffrey.

"There's someone here to see you." "Who is it?"

9) referring to what is happening used in some expressions for referring to the thing that you want someone to do

Stop it. You're hurting me.

Jump to it! There's no time to lose.

Get on with it.

10) mainly spoken exactly what is needed

a) an ability or quality that is needed in order to do something

We'll soon find out if you're any good as an actor. Either you've got it or you haven't.

b) the quality of being sexually attractive

She's definitely got it – the guys are all crazy about her.

11) very informal sexual intercourse used for referring to the activity of having sex, especially when you do not want to say this directly

They were together all night, but did they actually do it?

•

it's not that ... it's just that — used when you are explaining why you are doing something

It's not that I don't love you, it's just that I want to be free to live my own life.

it seems/looks/appears — used for saying what seems to be true

It seems that no one is willing to accept responsibility for what happened.

It looks as if we're going to lose our jobs.

like/hate/love etc it when — used for saying that you like, hate etc a particular type of situation or experience

I hate it when people talk about me behind my back.