The former the latter

The former and the lattercan have a plural verb: Beans and peas are good value The former/The latter are cheap

4 Pronouns

'It'

4.12 'It' as an 'empty subject'

We often use it in sentences referring to time, the weather, temperature

or distance. When used in this way, it is sometimes called an empty

subject because it carries no real information. It is present because

every English sentence has to contain a subject and a verb [> 4.5]:

Time: It's 8 o'clock It's Tuesday It's May 25th.

It's time... [> 11.43]: It's time (for us) to leave

Weather: It s hot It's raining It rains a lot here

Temperature: It's 37° centigrade/Celsius

Distance: It's 20 miles to/from London

The tides: It's high tide at 11 44

Environment: It's noisy/smoky in here

Present situation: Isn't it awful¹ Isn't it a shame¹

With since: It's three years since we last met

With says: It says here there was a big fire in Hove

With take [> 16.21]: It takes (us) half an hour to get to work

And note many expressions with i t, e.g. it doesn't matter, it's no

use,

(it as subject); I've had it; That does it? ( it as object).

4.13 'It'as a'preparatory subject'

Sometimes sentences beginning with it continue with an infinitive, a gerund or a noun clause [> 1.23.1,16.27.2, 16.47]. It is possible to begin such sentences with an infinitive or gerund, but we generally prefer i t:

Its pleasant to lie in the sun (To lie in the sun is pleasant)

It's pleasant lying in the sun (Lying in the sun is pleasant)

It's a shame that Tom isn't here (That Tom isn't here is a shame) It doesn't matter when we arrive (When we arrive doesn't matter)

The true subject in the above sentences with it is the infinitive, gerund or noun clause and it is preparatory to the subject.

It as a preparatory subject often combines with: adjectives: e.g. difficult, easy, important, vital [> App 44]:

It's easy (for me) to make mistakes. nouns: e.g. fun, a pity, a pleasure, a shame [> 1.23.1, 16.34]:

It's a pleasure (for us) to be here
verbs: e.g. appear, happen, look, seem [> 1.47.2, 10.25]:

It appears that he forgot to sign the letter

It now looks certain that the fire was caused by a

cigarette end

4.14 The use of 'it' in 'cleft sentences'

We can begin sentences with It is or It was + subject + that or who(m), if we wish to emphasize the word or phrase that follows. Sentences formed in this way are called cleft sentences because a simple sentence is split up (cleft) into two clauses using the it-construction:

'It'

Freda phoned Jack last night (simple sentence, no emphasis) It was Freda who phoned Jack last night (and not Rita) It was Jack who(m) Freda phoned last night (and not Richard) It was last night that Freda phoned (and not this morning)

4.15 'It' as a 'preparatory object' [compare > 1.14]

It + adjective can be used after verbs like find [> 16.22] to prepare us

for the infinitive or the that-clause that follows:

+ infinitive: Tim finds it difficult to concentrate

+ f/iaf-clause: Jan thinks it funny that I've taken up yoga

It can also be used after verbs like enjoy, hate, like, love I don't like it when you shout at me.