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B2 Pre-advanced
B2 grammar contents
B2There and it

Preparatory there and it

Use existential there to introduce existence and preparatory it to postpone heavy infinitive, gerund or clause subjects.

Overview

What this grammar does

Use existential there to introduce existence and preparatory it to postpone heavy infinitive, gerund or clause subjects.

Form and rules

How it works

1

Existential there introduces new information: There are several options; There seems to be a problem.

2

There can combine with perfect/modals: There has been a delay; There may be another explanation.

3

Preparatory it can introduce an adjective + infinitive/that-clause: It's important to check; It's surprising that nobody called.

4

It can also be used in cleft-like anticipatory structures with clauses: I find it difficult to concentrate.

5

Choose there for existence/appearance; choose it for evaluation, weather/time/distance or as a placeholder for a later clause.

A closer look

Meaning and use

It can also be used in cleft-like anticipatory structures with clauses: I find it difficult to concentrate.

Choose there for existence/appearance; choose it for evaluation, weather/time/distance or as a placeholder for a later clause.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

There appears to be a mistake.

There have been several complaints.

It's essential to back up the data.

I find it hard to work in complete silence.

It was surprising that the proposal passed.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

It seems to be a problem with the payment system.
There seems to be a problem with the payment system.

Existential there introduces the existence of a problem.

There is important to read the conditions carefully.
It is important to read the conditions carefully.

Preparatory it postpones the infinitive subject.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.

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