Grammar - explanation of anticipatory it and revision of Cleft sentences.

1.  ADVANCED
B2 GRAMMAR
Why Steve Jobs was a genius is clear.
It is clear why Steve Jobs was a genius.
Anticipatory it

2. If the subject is a long or grammatically complex
structure (a that-clause, wh-clause, toinfinitive or if-clause), we prefer to use a
pattern with it. This allows us to put those
clauses at the end of the sentence, which is the
usual place in English for information that is
important or new.
 Example:

Why

Steve decided to resign
Better: It is clear
resign.
is clear.
why Steve decided to

3.  It
+ is + clear + why Steve decided to
resign.
 It + is + my ambition + to set up my own
business.

Original sentence:To set up my own business is my
ambition:
 It
+ is + an honour + that Professor Jobs is
attending the conference this evening.

4.  Examples:
 It
+ helps + the cook + to have a sharp knife.
 It + upsets + me + to hear people arguing.
 It + worried + her parents + that she drove
so fast.

5.  Verbs
in this group include amaze, annoy,
astonish, bother, concern, frighten,
hurt, please, scare, shock, surprise,
upset and worry.
 They
also have an alternative pattern, e.g.
Her parents were worried that she drove so
fast.
 Verbs with NO alternative pattern include
appear, come about, emerge,
follow, happen, seem, transpire,
e.g. It turned out that the bike didn’t belong
to him.

6.  This
structure is common with many
adjectives expressing possibility,
necessity, importance, etc. Some of
them are un/important,
essential,
necessary, normal, common,
un/usual, right, wrong,
pointless, vital, etc.

7.  It
+ is + vital + for + her + to be resilient in
her job.
 It + is + important + for + the meeting + to
start at 8.00.

8. C) IT + VERB + ADJECTIVE/NOUN PHRASE + FOR + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE
 mistake,
idea, plan, shame and
pity.

It + was + a good idea + for them + to travel
in separate cars.

9. C) IT + VERB + ADJECTIVE/NOUN PHRASE + FOR + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE
 un/important,
essential,
necessary, normal, common,
un/usual, right, wrong, pointless,
vital, etc.

10.  It
refers to a clause that comes later in the
sentence.
 SUBJECT + VERB+ IT + THAT – CLAUSE/ WHCLAUSE/ IF- CLAUSE
 SUBJECT + VERB + IT + NOUN PHRASE/
ADJECTIVE + THAT – CLAUSE/ WH- CLAUSE/
INFINITIVE

11. I
+ hate + it + that you can swim so well and I
can’t.
 I + wouldn’t mind + it + if she helped in the
house when she stayed with us.
 We + like + it + when you cook for us.

12.  have
to do with (not) liking, e.g. bear,
enjoy, hate, like, love, don’t
mind, can’t stand, prefer,
resent, understand, etc.

13.  We
+ found + it + strange + that she hadn’t
written.
 I + consider + it + a waste of money + to
throw food away.
 Verbs used with this structure indicate how
we see a particular event or situation, e.g.
believe, consider, find, feel, think, etc.

14.  Verbs
used with this structure indicate how
we see a particular event or situation, e.g.
believe, consider, find,
feel, think, etc.

15. 
To drive a car without a licence is illegal.


That she wasn’t hurt in the fall was a miracle.


To sing in a choir is very enjoyable.


If the two countries don’t reach an agreement soon will be
surprising.


Where the light was coming from was far from clear.


That the two sides work towards peace is the Foreign
Minister’s hope.

16. 
That you already know my secret is obvious.


To send his children to study abroad is his intention.


When Max eventually turned up was a relief.


To know basic computer skills is essential nowadays.


That they could get lost on the way back really
worries me.


That he has a good rapport with his students is very
important for Pete.

17.  Join
the sentences using introductory it as
an object. You might need to make some
changes.
 She
would like to make a living from her
painting. She finds this impossible.
 She dances very well. I love this. She moves
so gracefully.
 Students make the same mistake again and
again. I can’t stand this.
 People don’t pick up their dog’s mess. I hate
this.

18. 1. USES OF IT: IT PRONOUN, DUMMY/PREP IT,
ANTICIPATORY IT.
 http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internetgrammar/minor/antit.htm
2. IT EXTRAPOSITION ( extra practice)
 http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/sentcleft.html#whatcleft weighing content).

19.  http://www.odlt.org/ballast/anticipatory_it.
html
 Also
remember to revise cleft sentences, to
do this you can visit:
 http://cursodeingleselena.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/b2advanced-2-grammar-unit-1b-cleft.html

20. Adapted from “anticipatory it” notes by Jackie
Knowles.
Power Point by Elena Gómez.