EXPLETIVE THERE AND EXPLETIVE IT

The expletives there and it fill subject positions but have no meaning of their
own.

A. Expletive there commonly occurs in the following types of sentences.

1. There + be + (pro)noun + expression of place.

Examples : There's nobody here.

There’s a piano in the room.

2. There + be + noun with adjective modifiers.

Examples : There was once a very wicked king.

There are three reasons for rejecting that proposal.

3. There + be + noun + -ing participle

Examples : There is a sale going on at the bookstore.

( = A sale is going on at the bookstore.)
There is a strong wind coming up from the west.

(= A strong wind is coming up from the west.)

In a sentence with expletive there, the verb agrees with the actual subject that
follows it.

Examples : There is a book on the desk.

There are some books on the desk.

B. Expletive it is often found in the following constructions.

1. It + be + adjective + adverbial construction

Examples : It’s gloomy here.

It’s pleasant in the garden.

It’s would be wise if you went there now.

2. It + be + an expression of:
 identification : Who is it? It’s the repairman.

weather : It’s cold outside.

time : It’s Wednesday (or ten o’clock, or March 14).

distance : It’s five miles from the library to my house.

Note that only a singular verb is used with expletive it.

C. Anticipatory It.
An anticipatory it construction is used to avoid having a long noun structure appear
in subject position. The construction without anticipatory it is felt as more formal.
When anticipatory it appears in subject position, the actual noun structure
subject is found at the end of the sentence, after the predicate.

1. Infinitive phrase subject:

Examples : To become a good doctor requires much training and experience.

With anticipatory it (less formal)

Examples : It requires much training and experience to become a good doctor.

2. That clause subject:

Examples : That he was able to sell that old car of his

was a surprise to us.

With anticipatory it (less formal)

Examples : It was a surprise to us that he was able to sell that old car of his.

Exercises 1: Supply it is, there is, there are.

1. ….…… raining outside now.
2. ….…… no place like home.
3. ….…… more comfortable over here.
4. ….……. someone waiting in the office to see you.
5. Who is at the door? ………. Mary.
6. ….……. two good reasons why you shouldn't go there.
7. ….……. not a house to be seen for miles around.
8. ….……. very warm today.
9. ….…… many books on man-made satellites in the library.
10. ….……. too cold to go outside.

11. What time ………. . ………. a quarter past two.

12. ….……… a lot of changes that should be made.
13. ….……. more efficient if you do it this way.
14. ….………….. snowing very hard now.
15. ….…….more births than deaths in some countries.
16. ….…………many ways of telling a lie.
17. ….………….only one way of telling the truth.
18. ….………..often very windy near the ocean.
19. ….………….some people who are never satisfied.
20. ….………… no fool like an old f'ool.

Exercise 2: Change each sentence so that it begins with it.

1. That she is very talented is quite evident.

2. That we will never finish on time is becoming apparent.

3. That he failed his examinations is a shame.

4. That he might be very ill never occurred to me.

5. That she couldn't have her way frustrated her.

 D. Reflexive Pronouns

A reflexive pronoun generally points back to the subject. It is used:

1. as the direct object of the verb.

Example: You mustn’t blame yourself for that mistake.

2. as the indirect object of the verb.

Example: I bought myself a beautiful watch.

3. as a prepotional object:

- of a verb.

Example: He's very selfish; he thinks only about himself.

- of an adjective.

Example: She's angry with herself for making such a mistake.

Exercises: Supply the required reflexive pronoun.

1. Albert Schweitzer dedicated ………. to caring for the sick in Africa.

2. She made ………. a dress.

3. They are ashamed of ……….

4. It’s time I bought ………. a new car.

5. They built ………. a beautiful home.

6. Did both of you enjoy ………. at the party?

7. You should always depend on ……….. rather than on someone else.

8. God helps those who help ……….

9. He is very angry with ………. for misplacing the money.

10. You will all have to be responsible for …………

E. Reflexive Pronouns as Intensifiers

Reflexive pronouns used as intensifiers are not necessary for the grammatical
structure of a sentence. They merely serve to emphasize nouns or pronouns.
1. Intensifying a subject
Example: We ourselves will lead the discussion. (= we and no one else)
We will lead the discussion ourselves.
(Final position is possible only if the the sentence or clause is short).

Shakespeare himself could not have said it better. (= even

Shakespeare)
Shakespeare could not have said it better himself.

2. Intensifying an object
Example: I saw the chief himself.
They want us to lead the discussion ourselves.
We spoke to the victims themselves.
Note that the reflexive pronoun is optional in these sentences.

Exercise: Use a reflexive pronoun to emphasize each of the italicized words. If

the italicized word is a subject, note whether the reflexive intensifier
may also appear in final position.

1. The staff …………. must do the work.

2. She ………… had nothing to do with the robbery.

3. He ………. told us about the matter.

4. The report was written by the department head ……….

5. The victims ………. cannot explain how the accident happened.

6. You (plural) ………. would not care to be put into such an unpleasant situation.

7. The party members … … … . d on't believe that their leaders are honest.

8. The Queen ………. gave instructions on what to serve for the stae dinner.

9. Many people think he's a great man. I ……….. once thought so but I don’t
 anymore.

10. He ………. would never have permitted such a thing to happen ……….;
someone else must have planned it.

F. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Each, every, either, neither require singular verbs. Pronouns referring to one of
these words are singular in formal speech.
Example: Each student is bringing his (or his or her) lunch.

(His can refer to a group of males and females together).

Everyone is expected to do his (or his or her) best.

Neither of the girls has done her homework.

In informal usage, a plural verb may occur with either, neither but not with
each, every; and a plural pronoun may refer to each, every, either, neither.
Note that for formal usage, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun after
(n)or.

Exercise: For each sentence, fill in the required form for the verb and the
pronoun. Use only the present tense. Observe formal usage.

1. Everyone ……….. own way of doing things.

2. Each of the awards ……….. for a large sum of money.

3. Either of the women …………. willing to lend ………… a car.

4. Each employee ………….. being asked to contribute as much as ……….. can.

5. Every apartment in the building (need) ………… some repairs.

A pronoun of indefinite quantity like some, all, none, most + an of-phrase

requires a verb that agrees with the noun in the of-phrase.
 The same rule applies if words that refer to a part like half, rest,
remainder or a fraction like one-third, three-fourths are used.
Some conservative handbooks claim that only a singular verb should be
used with none.

Exercise: Use the required form of the verb be.

1. All of these apples (present) ………….. from their garden.

2. None of the dessert (past) ………… eaten.

3. Half of the turkey (present) ………….. for today’s dinner.

4. Half of the dinner guests (past) ……….. staying with their hosts overnight.

The remainder (past) ………… taking the last train back to town.

5. Almost one-third of the people in the world (present) ………. always hungry.

G. Other, Another, Others

Other, another are pronouns used mainly in adjective function.

Other is most commonly used with a plural noun.

Example: This pen doesn't work. The other pens do.

Other is also used with a singular noun only if a determiner like the, any, some, each
precedes it.

Example: This pen doesn't work. The other pen doesn't, either.

Another is used only with a singular noun.

Examples: Please give me another (= a different) pen. This one doesn't work.

Would you like another (= an additional) piece of pie?

Since another consists of an + other, no other determiner can precede it.

Other, another may also function as nouns, with the word one understood.

Examples: He has two sisters. One is going to college, the other is working as a
secretary.

One person may enjoy living in a big city, while another

may prefer living in a small town.

Others is the plural of other in noun function only.

Examples: Some people like to watch TV at night, while others (= other

people) prefer to read a good book.

Some of the search party went to the right, the others (= the rest)
went to the left.

Exercises: Use other, another, others.

1. This route to Boston takes too long. There must be .......... way that is shorter.
2. He held a book in one hand and his notes in ...........
3. He has always liked to travel to ............ countries.
4. Some plants grow well in this climate. ............, however, cannot be grown
here.
5. ........... accident occurred in the same spot where one occurred last week.
6. I'll have to use the duplicate key. I lost the ............ one.
7. Any ............ person than her husband would have lost patience with her.
8. We didn't put quite enough plates on the table. Please hand me ............ one.
9. He had a bad quarrel with his friend last week. Now they're not talking to each ..........
10. Here are two books. One is for Mary, the ........... is for Jack.