The use of ‘It’ in English grammar is an important topic for students and competitive exam preparation. ‘It’ is often used as an introductory subject in sentences about time, weather, distance, or natural events. In addition, ‘It’ works with infinitives, gerunds, clauses, and is also used for emphasis. This article explains six main rules of ‘It’ with clear examples and bilingual notes, along with the difference between ‘This’ and ‘It.’ These rules make sentences grammatically correct and easy to understand.
Rule (1): Use of Empty “It” / ਖਾਲੀ “It” ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ
When we express time, weather, temperature, distance, or other natural events, we use “It” as an introductory subject. This “It” is called Empty It because it has no meaning of its own. It simply makes the sentence grammatically correct.
ਜਦੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਮਾਂ, ਮੌਸਮ, ਤਾਪਕ੍ਰਮ, ਦੂਰੀ ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਤਾਂ ਅਸੀਂ “It” ਨੂੰ Introductory subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਦੇ ਹਾਂ। ਇਸਨੂੰ Empty It ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਸਦਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੋਈ ਅਰਥ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਇਹ ਸਿਰਫ sentence ਨੂੰ grammatically ਠੀਕ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- It is raining. → (Weather)
- It is morning. → (Time of day)
- It is winter. → (Season)
- It is 6 o’clock. → (Time)
- It is March. → (Month)
- It is Monday. → (Day)
Rule (2): Use of “It” with Infinitive, Gerund, and Clause / “It” ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ Infinitive, Gerund ਅਤੇ Clause ਨਾਲ
“It” is also used as a substitute subject when the real subject of the sentence is an Infinitive, Gerund, or Clause. This makes the sentence simpler and more natural.
“It” ਨੂੰ substitute subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ sentence ਦਾ ਅਸਲੀ subject Infinitive, Gerund ਜਾਂ Clause ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ sentence ਸੌਖਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
- Infinitive:
- It is easy to solve.
Here, “to solve” is the real subject, but we use “It” to make the sentence smooth.
ਇੱਥੇ “to solve” ਅਸਲੀ subject ਹੈ, ਪਰ sentence ਨੂੰ ਸੁਗਮ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ “It” ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
- It is easy to solve.
- Gerund:
- It is no use crying.
“Crying” is the real subject, but “It” replaces it as the introductory subject.
“Crying” ਅਸਲੀ subject ਹੈ, ਪਰ “It” introductory subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
- It is no use crying.
- Clause:
- It is said that she is ill.
The clause “that she is ill” is the real subject, but “It” is used to begin the sentence.
“that she is ill” clause ਅਸਲੀ subject ਹੈ, ਪਰ sentence ਦੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ “It” ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ।
- It is said that she is ill.
In all these cases, “It” does not carry meaning itself. It only helps in sentence construction.
ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਭ cases ਵਿੱਚ “It” ਦਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੋਈ ਅਰਥ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਇਹ ਸਿਰਫ sentence ਨੂੰ grammatically ਠੀਕ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (3): Use of “It” for Emphasis / “It” ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ
“It” is used as the subject of a sentence to emphasize a noun or pronoun. This structure highlights the person or thing we want to stress. It is often followed by a relative clause (who/whom/which/that).
“It” ਨੂੰ sentence ਦੇ subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਕਿਸੇ noun ਜਾਂ pronoun ਉੱਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ sentence ਵਿੱਚ ਅਕਸਰ relative clause (who/whom/which/that) ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- It was he who helped you yesterday. → (Pronoun emphasized)/(Pronoun ‘he’ ਉੱਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ)
- It was Guriya whom I loved very much. → (Noun emphasized)/(Noun ‘Guriya’ ਉੱਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ)
In these sentences, “It” introduces the subject, but the real focus is on he or Guriya. This construction is called the Cleft Sentence because it divides the sentence into two parts for emphasis.
ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ sentences ਵਿੱਚ “It” introductory subject ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਅਸਲੀ ਧਿਆਨ he ਜਾਂ Guriya ਉੱਤੇ ਹੈ। ਇਸ construction ਨੂੰ Cleft Sentence ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਹ sentence ਨੂੰ ਦੋ ਭਾਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੰਡ ਕੇ emphasis ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (4): Use of “It” to Introduce a Phrase or Clause / “It” ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ Phrase ਜਾਂ Clause ਨੂੰ Introduce ਕਰਨ ਲਈ
“It” is used to introduce a phrase or clause at the beginning of a sentence. This makes the sentence smoother and more formal. Instead of starting directly with a phrase or clause, we use “It” as the subject.
“It” ਨੂੰ sentence ਦੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਵਿੱਚ phrase ਜਾਂ clause ਨੂੰ introduce ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ sentence ਹੋਰ ਸੁਗਮ ਅਤੇ formal ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। Phrase ਜਾਂ clause ਨੂੰ direct ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ “It” subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
- Phrase Example:
To live with an honest man is admirable.
→ Changed to: It is admirable to live with an honest man.
Here, the phrase “to live with an honest man” is introduced by “It.”
ਇੱਥੇ “to live with an honest man” phrase ਨੂੰ “It” ਨਾਲ introduce ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। - Clause Example:|
That it will rain today is probable.
→ Changed to: It is probable that it will rain today.
Here, the clause “that it will rain today” is introduced by “It.”
ਇੱਥੇ “that it will rain today” clause ਨੂੰ “It” ਨਾਲ introduce ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
This usage makes sentences more natural and avoids awkward beginnings.
ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ sentence ਹੋਰ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ awkward ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (5): Use of “It” for a Given Statement or Clause / ਦਿੱਤੇ Statement ਜਾਂ Clause ਲਈ “It” ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ
“It” is used to refer back to a statement or clause already mentioned in the sentence. In this case, “It” acts like a substitute subject or object, pointing to the whole idea expressed earlier.
“It” ਨੂੰ sentence ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ statement ਜਾਂ clause ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ case ਵਿੱਚ “It” substitute subject ਜਾਂ object ਵਜੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਵੱਲ ਇਸ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Mr. Singh has made a mistake, and he realises it.
Here, “It” refers back to the statement “Mr. Singh has made a mistake.”
ਇੱਥੇ “It” ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ statement “Mr. Singh has made a mistake” ਵੱਲ ਇਸ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। - I was cheated by many persons, and I know it.
Here, “It” refers back to the clause “I was cheated by many persons.”
ਇੱਥੇ “It” clause “I was cheated by many persons” ਵੱਲ ਇਸ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
In these sentences, “It” does not stand alone. It represents the entire statement or clause mentioned before.
ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ sentences ਵਿੱਚ “It” ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ, ਬਲਕਿ ਇਹ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ statement ਜਾਂ clause ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (6): Use of Preparatory “It” / Preparatory “It” ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ
In some sentences, after the principal clause (subject + verb), we use It + noun/adjective. Here, “It” is called Preparatory It because the verb “is” is hidden after “It.”
ਕੁਝ sentences ਵਿੱਚ principal clause (subject + verb) ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ It + noun/adjective ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇੱਥੇ “It” ਨੂੰ Preparatory It ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ “It” ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ is ਲੁਕਿਆ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Structure:
Principal clause [subject + verb] + It + Noun/Adjective + Infinitive/Clause
Examples:
- We think that it is wrong to travel without ticket. (Type I – Correct)
- We think it is wrong to travel without ticket. (Type II – Correct)
- We think wrong to travel without ticket. (Type III – Incorrect)
- In Type I, “that” is optional after “think.”
Type I ਵਿੱਚ “think” ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ “that” optional ਹੈ। - In Type II, “is” is omitted but the sentence is still correct.
Type II ਵਿੱਚ “is” ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ, ਪਰ sentence ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ। - In Type III, both “It” and “is” are omitted, so the sentence becomes incorrect.
Type III ਵਿੱਚ “It” ਅਤੇ “is” ਦੋਵੇਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਗਏ, ਇਸ ਲਈ sentence ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Note: Such sentences can be written without “is” but not without “It.”
ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ sentences is ਦੇ ਬਿਨਾ ਲਿਖੇ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ It ਦੇ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਹੀਂ।
- He considers that it is an honour to work here. (Correct)
- He considers it is an honour to work here. (Correct)
- He considers an honour to work here. (Incorrect)
Differences Between This and It / This ਅਤੇ It ਵਿਚ ਅੰਤਰ
Use of “This”
- “This” is used to indicate the name, identity, introduction, or nearness of a person or object — not “It.”
- This is a book.
- This is 9934289151.
- This is All India Radio.
- “This” is used in interrogative sentences to ask about name or identity.
- What is this? (Correct)
Use of “It”
- “It” is used to express time, distance, weather, season, etc. — not “This.”
- It is 9 a.m.
- It is summer.
- It is night.
- “It” is not used in interrogative sentences to ask about name or identity.
- What is it? (Incorrect)