It-Extraposition: Dummy *it* and the Heavy Clause at the End

In this construction, formal it does not name an object or person; it fills the subject position. The ordinary pronoun it, by contrast, refers to an object, event, or idea that is clear from the context.

There is another construction with a superficially similar it that should be distinguished from extraposition: the it-cleft, for example, “It was Maria who called.” Here, it is also non-referential, but it does not replace a heavy subject—it highlights one specific element (Maria) among possible alternatives, answering the question “who exactly?” It-extraposition moves an ENTIRE clause through dummy it; an it-cleft highlights ONE element through contrast. These are different tools, and confusing them is a typical advanced-level mistake.

A simple test: ask, “What does this it refer to?” If there is no answer and all the content is instead in the clause that follows, this is dummy it. If it can be paraphrased as “X itself, not someone else,” it is most likely an it-cleft.

A common pattern is: it + a form of be + an evaluative adjective + a that clause. The adjective expresses an evaluation of a message, possibility, or desired action. A noun phrase can play a similar role: it’s a pity that… — “it is unfortunate that…”. Not every that clause reports an established fact: It’s possible that… expresses only possibility.

Typical adjectives include important, essential, necessary, obvious, likely, possible, strange, and surprising. For an unknown answer to a question, use whether or a question word: It’s unclear whether… — “it is unclear if…”; It’s unclear who… — “it is unclear who…”. This has a different meaning from the probability judgment in It’s possible that….

The verb form inside the clause after evaluative adjectives such as essential/important/vital is often special—the subjunctive—and this is covered in a separate eighth section.

An action can be evaluated through a to-infinitive: it + a form of be + adjective + to + base verb. If necessary, the participant can be named with for or of.

For names the performer of the action: It’s difficult for beginners to master this quickly. Of is used after an evaluation of a person’s behavior—kind, rude, wise, or silly: It was kind of you to help. This evaluates a specific action, not necessarily a permanent character trait.

Compare the general It’s difficult to learn this technique with the more specific It’s difficult for beginners to learn this technique quickly. For beginners specifies who finds it difficult.

The reaction verbs surprise, please, annoy, and worry take an object—the person who reacts: It surprised me that… Other patterns express an impression (It seems that…), an accidental coincidence (It happened that…), or a discovered result (It turned out that…). In It occurred to me that…, the prepositional phrase to me names the person to whom the idea occurred.

Passive reporting verbs such as be said, be believed, be suggested, and be reported are common in news and business styles: It has been suggested that…. The source is often not named, but it can be added with by if necessary. The passive form itself does not confirm that the report is true.

In all these cases, the verb agrees with dummy it as with an ordinary third-person singular subject (surprises, seems, has been suggested), not with the person or number of whatever the clause is about.

A separate productive pattern is it + take (+ person) (+ time/quality) + to-infinitive: it measures how much time, effort, or a particular quality an action requires. The person can be named immediately after took (“it took her two hours”) or later in the sentence with for, when it is more natural to mention the time first: “it took two hours for her to finish”.

The same construction measures not only time but also an abstract quality: courage, patience, skill, or nerve. “It takes considerable courage to speak out against injustice” has the same framework; only courage replaces time.

A common mistake is using an -ing form instead of a to-infinitive after this pattern; this is discussed in more detail in the section on common mistakes.

A to-infinitive is not always needed after it. Remember these common patterns with an -ing form: it’s worth doing — “doing it is worthwhile”; it’s no use doing and it’s no good doing — “doing it is pointless.” Choose the form according to the word or expression that comes before it.

With some evaluative adjectives, both forms are possible: It’s great living here and It’s great to live here. The first often evaluates the speaker’s experience of living here; the second can also express a general evaluation. In the appropriate context, the meanings are very similar.

When an action is named with a verb after worth, use the -ing form: It’s worth checking. The version It’s worth to check is incorrect in this pattern.

After essential, important, vital, and necessary, and after the verbs suggest, recommend, and insist when they express a requirement or recommendation, the base form of the verb can be used in the that clause. It does not change according to the person: It is essential that every participant sign the form. This is the mandative subjunctive. With every participant, the ordinary Present Simple would be signs, so the difference is visible.

A natural alternative, especially in British English, is should + the base form: It was agreed that the launch should be postponed by a week. Both the base form and the should pattern are suitable for formal writing.

Ordinary inflected forms also occur in standard usage, especially in British English: It is important that everyone arrives on time. Not every sentence of this kind is incorrect. The base form clearly conveys a requirement; sometimes the inflected form can also be understood as reporting a fact. Choose the pattern according to meaning and style.

A short subject naturally comes at the beginning: Traveling is fun; Honesty matters. The version It’s fun traveling is also natural, especially in conversation. It-extraposition is a choice of sentence structure, not a required replacement for every subject that names an action.

Distinguish this structure from an it-cleft (It was Maria who called—it highlights Maria) and from He is believed to be innocent. The latter is close in meaning to It is believed that he is innocent, but the subject is he—the person being reported about.

If a long initial part makes the sentence harder to process, try a version with it. Then compare it with the previous context: what does the reader already know, and what should receive the focus?