The Role of the Pronoun IT
'It' is used :
(I) for things without life:
- Juli bought a camera. It is very costly.
- He opened the box. It contained a lot of jewels.
(II) for animals in common:
- The police brought the dog. It ran here and there.
- I saw a deer. It was very beautiful.
(III) for a child in common:
- The child saw the mother. It ran to her.
- The baby saw the stranger. It cried loudy.
(IV) for a temporary subject:
- It is better to start now.
- It is certain that she will win.
- It is easy to preach.
(V) To give emphasis to the following noun / Pronoun.
- It was the speaker who provoked us.
- It was I who first finished the work.
- It was the world cup 2011 that proved his talents.
(VI) As an indefinite nominative of an impersonal verb:
- It blows.
- It rains heavily.
- It blooms.
(VII) When you speak of weather or time:
- It is two o' clock.
- It is fine.
- It is summer.
(VIII) for a collective noun viewed as a whole.
- The army lost its way in the mountains.
- The crew obeyed its officers.
Notes:
a. Personal pronouns must be of same number, gender and person.
Example:
- The workers are tired. They need rest.
- William is wise. He will manage.
b. When two singular nouns are joined by 'and', the pronoun is plural.
Example:
- Jack and Jill went up the hill. They met with and accident.
- Linda and Liza are friends. They study well.
c. The singular nouns joined by 'and'-refers to the same person or thing / one person or thing the pronoun is singular.
Example:
- The principal and correspondent has arrived with his staff.
- I bought cup and saver can it is beautiful.
d. When two nouns are joined by or/ either -or / neither nor, the pronoun is singular.
Example:
- Miranda or Miriam must meet her teacher.
- Either Albert or Andrews got his salary.
- Neither Lucy nor Lydia brings her text book.
e. To show good manners: you and I. - not 'I and you'
Example:
- you and I must go now.
- She and we went to the movie.
- The room is for you and me (not 'I')
- 'you and I' is wrong.
- My friend invited my brother and me to the party. (not 'I')
- 'My brother and I' is wrong.
- None will follow you but me. (not 'I')
- ' you but I' is wrong.