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It or no It

IT or no  IT?

This particular difficulty is often unknown (even by intermediate learners).Yet, it is a frequent idiomatic addition and it must be done and understood by learners. 

In some conditions, you must (or mustn't!) add « it » which, most of the times represents nothing for non English-speakers. 

I) When to add IT:

1) After verbs expressing an impression or an opinion (to find, to think, to consider), the personal pronom IT may announce a subject which is either an infinitive  or a clause introduced by that. IT also announces a predicate (or an object complement, which is a noun or an adjective): this complement is composed of an infinitive or a subordinate clause. It will then be followed by a modal auxiliary or a subjunctive. 

- It's easy to overspeed on motorways in the US. (= subject) 

- I consider it important to let him speak when he wants. (= complement) 

2) To speak about a person who's mentioned for the first time: 

- We have 5 candidates: let's see the first one: it's Mister Reed. 

3) Atfer some prepositions (with, under, in)

- We looked for her phone under her bed but there was nothing under it.(no pronoun in French!)

4) Several IDIOMS where IT is absolutely necessary: 

- To take it for granted= I consider it natural and normal...

- I take it that...= I consider that... 

- Take it easy! = Take care!

- Damn it! = To hell with it!

- They had it all! = They had all that they could ever dream of. 

II) When NOT to ADD IT? 

1) When the subject of the verb is a clause introduced by WHAT:

- What I can't bear is hypocrisy.

2) As the predicate of an infinitive clause introduced by for:

- I left the paper for you to read. (just do what you fancy... )

- I left the paper for you to read it => The speaker is expecting the person to read the paper. 

3) After AS and THAN  ( the implied verbe is TO BE, which is no longer used.)

- He never works more than necessary.

4) Some impersonal French expressions are expressed in English WITHOUT  IT : he may/ she must/ there happens to be/ There's milk left...

That's IT ! Now, it's your turn for the test!Thanks for working with me.

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1. Once again, Billy has drunk more than 0itI don't know sensible.


2. He finds 0itI don't know difficult to accept his defeat.


3. We think it0I don't know a pity that they should be dismissed…


4. Derek always speaks more than 0itI don't know necessary.


5. I think that the kids spend more time in front of the TV than it0I don't know advisable for them.


6. I had taken 0itI don't know for granted that he would help me if I asked.


7. He finds 0itI don't know stupid to spend so much money on clothes.


8. The boss thinks 0itI don't know important that he give the results himself.


9. What I like best in this series 0itI don't know is having the hero look so modest.


10. He passed his exam with flying colours, as 0itI don't know expected.