UNIT 83. There. and it

A. There and it'

We use there... when we talk about something for the first time, to say that it exists:

* There's a new restaurant in King Street. (not 'A new restaurant is in King Street')

* The journey took a long time. There was a lot of traffic. (not 'It was a lot of traffic')

* * Things are much more expensive now. There has been a big rise in the cost of living.

It = a particular thing, place, fact, situation etc. (but see also Section C:

* We went to the new restaurant. It's very good. (it = the restaurant)

* 'Was the traffic bad?' 'Yes, it was terrible.' (it = the traffic)

* I wasn't expecting them to come. It (= that they came) was a complete surprise.

Compare:

* I don't like this town. There's nothing to do here. It's a boring place.

Note that there also means 'to/at/in that place':

* The new restaurant is very good. I went there (= to the restaurant) last night.

* When we arrived at the party, there were already a lot of people there (= at the party).

B. You can say there will be, there must be, there used to be etc.

* Will there be many people at the party?

* 'Is there a flight to Paris this evening?' 'There might be. I'll phone the airport.'

* If people drove more carefully, there wouldn't be so many accidents.

Also: there must have been, there should have been etc.:

* There was a light on. There must have been somebody at home.

Compare there and it:

* They live on a busy road. There must be a lot of noise from the traffic.

They live on a busy main road. It must be very noisy.

* There used to be a cinema in King Street but it closed a few years ago.

That building is now a supermarket. It used to be a cinema.

You can also say there is sure/certain/likely to be something (see also Unit 64E):

* There is sure to be a flight to Paris this evening.

C. We use it in sentences like this:

* It's dangerous to walk in the road. (It = to walk in the road)

It is unusual to say 'To walk in the road is dangerous.' Normally we begin with It...

* It didn't take us long to get here. (it = to get here)

* It's a pity (that) Sandra can't come to the party. (It = that Sandra can't come)

* Let's go. It's not worth waiting any longer. (It = waiting any longer)

We use it to talk about distance, time and weather:

* It's a long way from here to the airport.

* How far is it to the airport?

* What day is it today?

* It's a long time since I last saw you.

* It's going to be a nice day.

* It was windy. (but 'There was a cold wind.')