Grammar / There is or It is

‘ There is’ or ‘It is’?

There is / are + noun = something exists

There is a mosquito in the room = A mosquito exists in the room.

There are several problems = Several problems exist.

It is + adjective

It is important to realise the severity of the problem.

It is easy.

It is + noun= ‘Cleft’ sentences for emphasis

It is the student that is important in the learning process not the teacher.

It was the seafood that made me sick.

It is = referring back to something previously

We went surfing but it was a waste of time as there was no surf.

There’s a dog. It’s a German Shepherd.

Complete the sentences with ‘there’ or ‘it’ in the spaces.

1. ______ is important to look at the whole picture.

2. ______ will be action.

3. ______ is strong and consistent evidence of an independent causal association between depression and social isolation.

4. _____ is too often a lack of detail and logical order.

5. _____ is true that the net result is that all firms are worse off, but this does not mean that every firm has not maximized its profits

6. _____ is therefore imperative that the “road map” section be read carefully

7. ______ is when the ESA has made exceptions that an imposition can be applicable.

8. Although _____ is no physical battle, _______ is certainly a difficult one.

9. ______ is desirable to generalize the definition of R 2 to more general models

10. _______ is also some indirect evidence showing that the desire to leave a bequest is an important motive for saving

11. ______ is not right for someone to die when their life could be saved.

12. ______ is the thought process that is important to examine

ANSWERS

1. It is important to look at the whole picture.’

‘Important’ is an adjective

2. There will be action.

‘Action’ is a noun

3. There is strong and consistent evidence of an independent causal association between depression and social isolation.

‘Evidence’ is a noun

4. There is too often a lack of detail and logical order.

‘Detail and logical order’ are nouns

5. It is true that the net result is that all firms are worse off, but this does not mean that every firm has not maximized its profit.

‘True’ is an adjective

6. It is therefore imperative that the “road map” section be read carefully

‘Imperative’ is an adjective

7. It is when the ESA has made exceptions that an imposition can be applicable.

This is a cleft sentence putting emphasis on the beginning of the clause.

8. Although there is no physical battle, it is certainly a difficult one.

‘Battle is a noun’. It in the second part refers back to ‘battle’.

9. It is desirable to generalize the definition of R 2 to more general models

‘Desirable’ is an adjective

10. There is also some indirect evidence showing that the desire to leave a bequest is an important motive for saving

‘Evidence’ is a noun.

11. It is not right for someone to die when their life could be saved.

‘Right’ is an adjective

12. It is the thought process that is important to examine

This is a cleft sentence putting emphasis on the beginning ie ‘the thought process’.