Sentences with Introductory 'it' and 'there + to be': English ЕГЭ 2025 Preparation

Sentences with introductory 'it' and 'there + to be' constructions are common in English but can be challenging for non-native speakers. These structures are frequently tested in the ЕГЭ English exam, both in grammar tasks and in writing sections. Understanding when and how to use these constructions correctly will help you express yourself more naturally in English.

Theory for Exam Preparation

In English, sentences often begin with the formal subjects 'it' or 'there' when the real subject appears later in the sentence. These constructions serve specific grammatical and stylistic purposes and follow distinct patterns. Mastering these patterns is essential for achieving a high score in the ЕГЭ English exam.

Introductory 'it' Constructions

The introductory 'it' (also called the anticipatory 'it' or dummy subject) is used in several different contexts in English.

It + be + adjective + infinitive/that-clause

This structure is used to express opinions, judgments, or evaluations about actions or facts.

Examples:

It + be + adjective + to-infinitive: It is important to study regularly.
It + be + adjective + that-clause: It is surprising that he didn't come to the party.

Common adjectives used in this structure:

essential, important, necessary, vital
good, nice, wonderful, terrible, awful
difficult, easy, hard, impossible
strange, surprising, interesting, amazing

It + passive verb + that-clause

This structure is used to report what people say, think, or believe without specifying who exactly holds these opinions.

Examples:

It + be + past participle + that-clause: It is said that the castle is haunted.
It is believed that exercise improves mental health.
It is reported that the economy is recovering.

Common verbs used in this structure:

said, reported, announced, stated
thought, believed, considered, assumed
known, understood, expected, estimated

It + be + noun/pronoun + who/that/which

This structure (called a cleft sentence) is used to emphasize a particular part of the sentence by placing it after "it is/was".

Examples:

It was John who called you yesterday. (emphasizing the person)
It is your attitude that concerns me. (emphasizing the thing)
It was in Paris where they first met. (emphasizing the place)

It with weather, time, distance, and environment

The pronoun 'it' is used to talk about weather, time, distance, and general environment.

Examples:

Weather: It is raining. It was snowing yesterday. It will be sunny tomorrow.
Time: It is 3 o'clock. It's getting late. It's time to go.
Distance: It is five kilometers to the nearest town.
Environment: It is noisy here. It was quiet in the library.

Important!

In English, unlike some other languages, we cannot omit 'it' in these constructions. For example, we must say "It is raining" not just "Is raining."

There + to be Constructions

The 'there + to be' construction (also called the existential 'there') is used to indicate the existence or presence of something.

Basic Structure

The basic structure is: There + be + subject + (place) + (time)

Examples:

There is a book on the table.
There are many students in the classroom.
There was a strange noise last night.
There will be a meeting tomorrow.

Remember that the verb 'be' agrees with the subject that follows it, not with 'there':

There is a book. (singular subject)

There are three books. (plural subject)

There + be + subject + verb-ing

This structure is used to describe something happening at the moment or in the future.

Examples:

There is someone waiting for you outside.
There are several people working on the project.

There + be + subject + infinitive

This structure is used to talk about things that exist for a specific purpose or things that will happen.

Examples:

There is nothing to worry about.
There are many issues to discuss.
There is going to be a party next week.

There + other verbs

Although less common, 'there' can be used with verbs other than 'be' to describe existence, appearance, or occurrence.

Examples:

There seems to be a problem with the computer.
There appears to be a misunderstanding.
There happened to be a doctor in the audience.
There used to be a cinema here.

Differences Between 'It' and 'There' Constructions

Introductory 'It'	Existential 'There'
Used for comments, opinions, and judgments	Used to indicate existence or presence
Used for weather, time, distance	Often introduces new information
The real subject is usually a clause or infinitive	The real subject follows the verb 'be'
Verb agrees with 'it' (always singular)	Verb agrees with the subject that follows

Common Errors to Avoid

Forgetting to use 'it' with weather expressions: Incorrect: Is raining heavily. Correct: It is raining heavily.
Incorrect verb agreement with 'there': Incorrect: There's many problems to solve. Correct: There are many problems to solve.
Confusing 'it is' and 'there is': Incorrect: It is a book on the table. Correct: There is a book on the table.
Double subjects: Incorrect: It is important the regular exercise it helps maintain health. Correct: It is important that regular exercise helps maintain health.

Practice Examples

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

________ necessary to arrive at the airport two hours before the flight.
________ a new café that has just opened in our neighborhood.
________ believed that the painting was created in the 16th century.
________ several reasons why we should reconsider the proposal.
________ snowing heavily when we left the house this morning.

Answers:

1. It is necessary to arrive at the airport two hours before the flight. (opinion about an action)

2. There is a new café that has just opened in our neighborhood. (indicating existence)

3. It is believed that the painting was created in the 16th century. (passive reporting)

4. There are several reasons why we should reconsider the proposal. (indicating existence of plural items)

5. It was snowing heavily when we left the house this morning. (weather expression)

Rewrite the following sentences using 'it' or 'there' constructions as appropriate.

Studying a foreign language regularly is important.
A solution to the problem exists.
People say that the restaurant serves excellent food.
Many students attended the lecture.
The fact that you missed the deadline disappoints me.

Rewritten sentences:

1. It is important to study a foreign language regularly.

2. There is a solution to the problem.

3. It is said that the restaurant serves excellent food.

4. There were many students at the lecture.

5. It disappoints me that you missed the deadline.

Key Points to Remember

Use introductory 'it' for comments, opinions, weather, time, and emphasis
Use 'there + be' to indicate the existence or presence of something
The verb after 'there' agrees with the subject that follows it
'It' as a subject is always singular
Both constructions are common in formal and informal English

Exam Tip!

In the ЕГЭ English exam, pay special attention to verb agreement in 'there + be' constructions and the correct use of tenses with both 'it' and 'there' structures. These are common areas where points are lost.