There or It

There or It

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There

We use there to say when or where something is.

• There are some dirty cups on the table.
• There is a party tomorrow.

We use there to say that something exists or is happening.

• There is a problem. 
• There was an accident.

Note that we use there the first time we mention something. If we talk about the same thing again, we use it or they.

• There are some cups on the table. But they are dirty.
• There was an accident. It was horrible.

It

We use it to talk about something again in the conversation.

• There is a party tomorrow. It will be fantastic!
• We saw a snake in the forest. It was very big.

We use it to talk about times and dates.

• It‘s my mum’s birthday today. 
• Let’s go home. It‘s very late. 
• It‘s four o’clock.

We use it to talk about the weather.

• It‘s very windy. 
• It‘s a nice day.
• It rained a lot yesterday.
• It‘s four degrees.

We use it to talk about distance.

• How far is it?
• It‘s not very far. 
• It‘s a long way to the nearest petrol station.  
• It‘s 2 kilometres from the hotel to the station. 

❗ Note that we use far in negative sentences and questions, and we use a long way in affirmative sentences.

We use it’s + adjective + to-infinitive.

• It’s nice to see you again.
• It was difficult to find the hotel.

Be careful with these common mistakes!

• I think the worst part of the exam it’s speaking.
• I think the worst part of the exam is speaking.

We do NOT use it when the subject of the verb is in the sentence. In the sentence above, the subject of is is ‘the worst part of the exam’.

• I love their music. Is fantastic!
• I love their music. It’s fantastic!

Don’t forget to use it when you mention something again in the conversation.