Subject-clause extraposition: dummy it and the clause at the end

Dummy it and the clause at the end

When the subject is a whole clause (a that-clause, a whether- or wh-clause, an infinitive, or an -ing form), English usually moves it to the end of the sentence and places dummy it at the beginning. Here, it does not refer to anything: it only occupies the subject position before the predicate.

In traditional explanations, the clause at the end is called the notional subject. It occupies the grammatical subject position of the main clause: is/was agrees with it, and the tag question repeats it. The content of the final clause is what is evaluated.

This structure is the neutral word order: a short evaluation comes first, while long, new information comes at the end. This is called the principle of end weight.

How to build it

It + predicate (+ complement) + subject clause

subject / S: The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
clause: A construction with a verb, often with its own subject: when I arrived. A non-finite clause may leave the subject unspoken: to get home.
complement: A part completing the meaning: in I am happy, happy describes my state.

It is a shame that the library closes so early.

The evaluation a shame comes before the clause; it does not refer to anything in the text.

It would help to know who made the decision.

The notional subject is the infinitive clause to know who made the decision.

It struck her that the room had gone silent.

After a verb with the object her, the notional subject is a that-clause.

Four types of subject clauses

A that-clause gives the content of a statement. It does not guarantee that this content is a fact: it seems likely that… expresses probability. In many patterns, that can be omitted; before a long clause, it is often retained for clarity.

A whether-clause and wh-clauses (who, what, why, how) express a question or a choice: it is not obvious why … In these clauses, word order is direct, as in a statement, without an auxiliary verb before the subject.

An infinitive clause shows an action: it is hard to find the entrance. If the action has its own performer, for introduces them: it is hard for newcomers to find the entrance.

An -ing clause after it is possible only after a limited range of evaluative expressions: it's no use, it's worth, it's pointless, it was great, it's a pleasure, it's a waste of time.

It seems likely that prices will keep rising.

The that-clause gives a prediction, while seems likely presents it as probable, not as an established fact.

It is not obvious why the system crashed.

A wh-clause with direct word order: why the system crashed.

It is hard for newcomers to find the entrance.

For introduces the performer of the infinitive clause.

It was great meeting your parents.

An -ing clause after the evaluative expression it was great.

Which predicates lead to it

Adjectives of evaluation and probability: clear, likely, essential, odd, doubtful, regrettable. Noun-based evaluations: a pity, a shame, no wonder, a mistake, a good idea.

Verbs expressing feelings take an object me/him/everyone: it surprised me, it bothers them, it puzzled everyone. Verbs such as occur and suggest introduce the person with a preposition: it occurred to me, it was suggested to us.

The impersonal passive can present information without naming its source: it is said, it has been argued, it was agreed. The source then needs to be established from context. Seem, appear, happen, turn out, and follow also have it-constructions, but in other patterns they are used with other subjects: she seems tired.

The expressions take and cost work for an action and its cost: it takes time to learn a language, it cost them a fortune to repair the roof.

It is doubtful that the bridge will reopen before spring.

The adjective of probability doubtful evaluates the clause.

It bothers them that nobody apologised.

A feeling verb with the object them.

It has been argued that the reform came too late.

The impersonal passive hides the agent.

It cost them a fortune to repair the roof.

Cost with an object and an infinitive clause.

When extraposition is obligatory

In the patterns it seems/appears/happens/turns out that…, you cannot simply move the that-clause before the bare verb. Compare: It seems that the plan failed. If an evaluation follows seem, an initial clause is possible: That the plan failed seems unlikely. Focus on the whole construction, not on the name of the verb.

If the sentence already contains dummy it, the clause must go at the end: it that … is impossible in the subject position.

In questions, an initial clause is rarely used: Is it true that …? Does it matter whether …? A tag question also repeats it, not words from the clause.

It appears that the data were incomplete.

In the pattern it appears that…, it is required; simply moving the that-clause before bare appears does not produce a valid sentence.

Does it matter whether the form is signed in ink?

A question with it and a whether-clause at the end.

It's remarkable that she remembered, isn't it?

The tag repeats the dummy subject it.

End weight, style, and initial clauses

Neutral, business, and academic writing prefer the it-variant because the long clause comes at the end and carries new information.

An initial subject clause is grammatical with many predicates, but it sounds heavy, formal, or rhetorical. It is appropriate when the clause repeats information that is already known, in aphorisms, and in deliberately elevated style.

An initial clause with if is not possible: if at the beginning is read as a conditional conjunction, so whether is needed.

To forgive is divine.

An aphorism: an initial infinitive clause is appropriate.

That the evidence was weak was no secret to the defence.

The clause repeats information already known from the context.

Whether she meant it is another matter.

An initial whether-clause is stylistically appropriate.

Clause form

No comma is used before that after it …: it is odd that nobody called. In this structure, a comma is often mistakenly carried over from languages that require a comma before subordinate clauses.

In wh- and whether-clauses, word order is direct: it is unclear what the speaker meant, not *what did the speaker mean. The verb itself expresses the past tense.

In these patterns, a person is introduced with to: it was suggested to the staff, it occurred to him. Occurred is an active form, while was suggested is passive; the preposition depends on the verb, not on a general requirement of all passives. In a to-infinitive, a separate performer can be introduced with for: it is essential for managers to stay neutral.

It is well known that sound travels faster in water than in air.

No comma before that.

It is not clear how the thieves got in.

Direct word order: how the thieves got in.

It was explained to us that the office had moved.

The person is introduced with the preposition to.

Boundaries: what is not subject-clause extraposition

A cleft sentence highlights an element: It was in May that the contract was signed. If you remove it was … that, a complete sentence with that element remains, not a subject clause.

Ordinary it refers to an object: I found the letter, and it was unopened. A clause that specifies a noun (A report appeared that the mayor would resign) is a separate construction (the postposition of a dependent clause from a noun phrase), as is the shifting of a long object to the end.

Constructions with it as an object (I find it odd that …) and a subject raised from a clause (She seems to have left) belong to separate topics, although they are easy to confuse with this one.

It was in May that the contract was signed.

A cleft sentence: it highlights an adverbial of time, not a subject clause.

I found the letter, and it was unopened.

Ordinary it refers to letter.

A report appeared that the mayor would resign.

The clause specifies the noun report; it is not the subject.

Using this in your own speech

For a neutral, complete sentence corresponding to “it is important that…” or “it is a pity that…”, use it is important that… / it is a pity that…. Shortened forms are possible in conversational fragments, but it is required in this complete pattern.

In academic and business writing, extraposition helps you express ideas cautiously: it is possible that, it has been suggested that, it remains to be seen whether.

In conversation, short it-utterances give an evaluation or reaction: it was fun working with you, it surprised me that the shop was shut. Create variety by combining clause types with ordinary sentences.

It is essential to keep the receipts.

An impersonal sentence corresponds to it + an infinitive.

It remains to be seen whether the plan will work.

A typical cautious formula in academic writing.

It was good to hear from you.

A conversational evaluation with an infinitive clause.

Common mistakes

Incorrect:Is clear that the budget will be cut.

Correct:It is clear that the budget will be cut.

In this neutral, complete construction, the subject it is required: It is clear that…. Do not extend this conclusion to imperative sentences or conversational fragments, where the subject may be unspoken.

Incorrect:It is a shame, that he left early.

Correct:It is a shame that he left early.

No comma is used before that in this construction; adding one is an error often carried over from other languages' punctuation.

Incorrect:It is not known what did the surgeon decide.

Correct:It is not known what the surgeon decided.

This is a subordinate interrogative clause with direct word order: what the surgeon decided. It expresses unknown content but does not have the inversion of an independent question.

Incorrect:It occurred me that the key was missing.

Correct:It occurred to me that the key was missing.

The verb occur requires the preposition to before the person to whom something occurred.

Incorrect:This is important that we start early.

Correct:It is important that we start early.

This refers to a specific object, situation, or previously mentioned content; this construction requires formal it, which announces the that-clause.

Incorrect:It is a pity that he left, isn't he?

Correct:It is a pity that he left, isn't it?

The grammatical subject of the main clause is it, so the tag repeats it, not he from the clause.

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