Chapter: Introductory 'it' & 'there'
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
introductoryanticipatorydummysubjectclauseinfinitiveexistencesingularpluralcountableuncountablenecessarypossibleimportantobviousdistanceapproximatelyagreementtransformrearrange
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Use ‘it’ as an introductory or dummy subject before weather, time, distance, condition and evaluation expressions.
► Use ‘there’ as an existential subject to introduce the existence or presence of a person or thing.
► Use ‘there is’ with a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun: There is a book. There is water.
► Use ‘there are’ with a plural noun: There are many books.
► Change is to was for past singular existence and are to were for past plural existence.
► For future existence, use there will be + singular or plural noun.
► After a modal verb, use be: There may be, there should be and there must be.
► An infinitive or that-clause after introductory it may be the real subject: It is easy to learn. It is clear that he is honest.
► To form a negative, place not after the auxiliary or use no before a noun: There is not any milk. There is no milk.
► To form a question, place the auxiliary before it or there: Is it difficult? Is there a problem?
1. Introductory ‘it’: Basic Uses (8 words)
introductory[/ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/]adjmedium
Meaning: প্রারম্ভিক
Alt: ভূমিকাসূচক
Example: In the sentence ‘It is easy to learn,’ it is introductory.
Syn: initial, openingAnt: final, concluding
💡 Exam tip: Introductory it does not refer to a particular noun; it introduces the real subject.
subject[/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/]nouneasy
Meaning: কর্তা
Alt: বিষয়
Example: The subject usually performs the action of the verb.
Syn: topic, doerAnt: object
💡 Exam tip: Find the subject before choosing the correct verb.
refer[/rɪˈfɜːr/]verbmedium
Meaning: নির্দেশ করা
Alt: উল্লেখ করা
Example: The pronoun it may refer to a noun mentioned earlier.
Syn: indicate, mentionAnt: ignore
💡 Exam tip: Distinguish referential it from introductory it.
anticipatory[/ænˈtɪsɪpətəri/]adjhard
Meaning: আগাম নির্দেশক
Alt: প্রত্যাশামূলক
Example: It is surprising that he won the prize.
Syn: prospective, predictiveAnt: retrospective
💡 Exam tip: In anticipatory it, the clause after that is the real subject.
clause[/klɔːz/]nounmedium
Meaning: উপবাক্য
Alt: বাক্যের অংশ
Example: That she passed the test is known to everyone.
Syn: sentence-part, propositionAnt: phrase
💡 Exam tip: A that-clause can function as the real subject after introductory it.
infinitive[/ɪnˈfɪnətɪv/]nounmedium
Meaning: অনন্ত ক্রিয়ারূপ
Alt: to-বিশিষ্ট ক্রিয়ারূপ
Example: It is difficult to solve the problem.
Syn: verb form, to-infinitiveAnt: finite verb
💡 Exam tip: The infinitive phrase may be the real subject placed after the complement.
dummy[/ˈdʌmi/]adjmedium
Meaning: অর্থবিহীন
Alt: নামমাত্র
Example: In ‘It is raining,’ it is a dummy subject.
Syn: empty, placeholderAnt: meaningful, referential
💡 Exam tip: Dummy it occupies the subject position but has no independent meaning.
formal[/ˈfɔːrməl/]adjeasy
Meaning: আনুষ্ঠানিক
Alt: নিয়মমাফিক
Example: It is important to follow formal grammar rules.
Syn: official, properAnt: informal, casual
💡 Exam tip: Formal English often uses introductory it before a long clause.
2. ‘It’ with Weather, Time and Distance (8 words)
weather[/ˈweðər/]nouneasy
Meaning: আবহাওয়া
Alt: বায়ুমণ্ডলের অবস্থা
Example: It is raining heavily today.
Syn: climate, atmosphere
💡 Exam tip: Use it as the subject in weather expressions.
rain[/reɪn/]verbeasy
Meaning: বৃষ্টি হওয়া
Alt: বৃষ্টি পড়া
Example: It rained all night.
Syn: drizzle, pourAnt: dry
💡 Exam tip: Weather verbs commonly take introductory it.
snow[/snoʊ/]verbeasy
Meaning: তুষারপাত হওয়া
Alt: বরফ পড়া
Example: It may snow in the northern region.
Syn: snowfall, flakeAnt: melt
💡 Exam tip: Use it before snow, sleet, hail and similar weather verbs.
thunder[/ˈθʌndər/]nounmedium
Meaning: বজ্রধ্বনি
Alt: গর্জন
Example: It thundered during the storm.
Syn: roar, rumbleAnt: silence
💡 Exam tip: It is used with expressions describing natural phenomena.
dawn[/dɔːn/]nouneasy
Meaning: ভোর
Alt: সূর্যোদয়ের সময়
Example: It was dawn when we reached the village.
Syn: daybreak, sunriseAnt: dusk, night
💡 Exam tip: Use it in time expressions such as ‘It was dawn.’
midnight[/ˈmɪdnaɪt/]nouneasy
Meaning: মধ্যরাত্রি
Alt: রাত বারোটা
Example: It was midnight when the train arrived.
Syn: twelve o’clock, dead of nightAnt: noon
💡 Exam tip: It is used as a formal subject in statements about time.
distance[/ˈdɪstəns/]nouneasy
Meaning: দূরত্ব
Alt: ব্যবধান
Example: It is five kilometres from here to the station.
Syn: interval, spaceAnt: nearness, proximity
💡 Exam tip: Use ‘It is + distance + from A to B’ for distance.
approximately[/əˈprɒksɪmətli/]advmedium
Meaning: প্রায়
Alt: আনুমানিকভাবে
Example: It is approximately ten miles from Dhaka to the airport.
Syn: about, roughlyAnt: exactly, precisely
💡 Exam tip: Use approximately before an estimated time, number or distance.
3. ‘It’ in Evaluation and Impersonal Expressions (8 words)
necessary[/ˈnesəseri/]adjeasy
Meaning: প্রয়োজনীয়
Alt: অপরিহার্য
Example: It is necessary to obey traffic rules.
Syn: essential, requiredAnt: unnecessary, optional
💡 Exam tip: Pattern: It is necessary + to-infinitive or that-clause.
possible[/ˈpɒsəbəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: সম্ভব
Alt: ঘটতে পারে এমন
Example: It is possible to finish the work today.
Syn: feasible, attainableAnt: impossible, unfeasible
💡 Exam tip: Use possible with a to-infinitive or a that-clause.
impossible[/ɪmˈpɒsəbəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: অসম্ভব
Alt: ঘটতে পারে না এমন
Example: It is impossible to please everyone.
Syn: unachievable, hopelessAnt: possible, feasible
💡 Exam tip: The negative prefix im- changes possible into its opposite.
important[/ɪmˈpɔːrtənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: গুরুত্বপূর্ণ
Alt: তাৎপর্যপূর্ণ
Example: It is important that students attend the class.
Syn: significant, essentialAnt: unimportant, trivial
💡 Exam tip: Use introductory it to postpone a long that-clause.
difficult[/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/]adjeasy
Meaning: কঠিন
Alt: দুরূহ
Example: It is difficult to understand the rule at first.
Syn: hard, challengingAnt: easy, simple
💡 Exam tip: Pattern: It is difficult + to-infinitive.
obvious[/ˈɒbviəs/]adjmedium
Meaning: স্পষ্ট
Alt: সহজে বোঝা যায় এমন
Example: It is obvious that she is telling the truth.
Syn: clear, evidentAnt: unclear, hidden
💡 Exam tip: Obvious commonly takes a that-clause after introductory it.
fortunate[/ˈfɔːrtʃənət/]adjmedium
Meaning: সৌভাগ্যবান
Alt: ভাগ্যবান
Example: It was fortunate that nobody was injured.
Syn: lucky, blessedAnt: unfortunate, unlucky
💡 Exam tip: Use it was fortunate that to express a lucky result.
likely[/ˈlaɪkli/]adjmedium
Meaning: সম্ভাব্য
Alt: সম্ভবত ঘটবে এমন
Example: It is likely that the team will win.
Syn: probable, expectedAnt: unlikely, improbable
💡 Exam tip: Likely can be followed by a that-clause in formal sentences.
4. Existential ‘There’: Existence and Quantity (8 words)
existence[/ɪɡˈzɪstəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: অস্তিত্ব
Alt: বিদ্যমানতা
Example: There is evidence of life on the planet.
Syn: being, presenceAnt: absence, nonexistence
💡 Exam tip: Existential there introduces the existence of a person or thing.
exist[/ɪɡˈzɪst/]verbmedium
Meaning: অস্তিত্ব থাকা
Alt: বিদ্যমান থাকা
Example: There exist several solutions to the problem.
Syn: live, remainAnt: disappear, perish
💡 Exam tip: In formal English, there exist agrees with a plural subject.
available[/əˈveɪləbəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: উপলব্ধ
Alt: পাওয়া যায় এমন
Example: There are many books available in the library.
Syn: accessible, obtainableAnt: unavailable, inaccessible
💡 Exam tip: Use there are with plural nouns such as books.
variety[/vəˈraɪəti/]nounhard
Meaning: বৈচিত্র্য
Alt: বিভিন্নতা
Example: There is a variety of food at the fair.
Syn: diversity, rangeAnt: uniformity, sameness
💡 Exam tip: A variety of is usually followed by a plural noun, but the verb may agree with variety in formal usage.
plenty[/ˈplenti/]nouneasy
Meaning: প্রচুর পরিমাণ
Alt: প্রাচুর্য
Example: There is plenty of water in the tank.
Syn: abundance, muchAnt: scarcity, lack
💡 Exam tip: Use there is plenty of with an uncountable noun.
shortage[/ˈʃɔːrtɪdʒ/]nounmedium
Meaning: ঘাটতি
Alt: অপ্রতুলতা
Example: There is a shortage of clean water in the area.
Syn: scarcity, deficitAnt: surplus, abundance
💡 Exam tip: A shortage of is a singular noun phrase, so use there is.
crowd[/kraʊd/]nouneasy
Meaning: ভিড়
Alt: জনসমাবেশ
Example: There was a large crowd outside the stadium.
Syn: throng, multitudeAnt: few, solitude
💡 Exam tip: Use there was before a singular collective noun such as crowd.
absence[/ˈæbsəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: অনুপস্থিতি
Alt: অভাব
Example: There is an absence of discipline in the institution.
Syn: lack, nonattendanceAnt: presence, attendance
💡 Exam tip: Absence is singular and normally takes there is or there was.
5. Existential ‘There’: Agreement and Tense (8 words)
singular[/ˈsɪŋɡjələr/]adjeasy
Meaning: একবচন
Alt: একটি বোঝায় এমন
Example: There is a pen on the desk.
Syn: one, individualAnt: plural, multiple
💡 Exam tip: Use there is with a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun.
plural[/ˈplʊərəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: বহুবচন
Alt: একাধিক বোঝায় এমন
Example: There are three pens on the desk.
Syn: multiple, numerousAnt: singular, single
💡 Exam tip: Use there are with plural nouns in standard exam grammar.
countable[/ˈkaʊntəbəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: গণনাযোগ্য
Alt: যা গণনা করা যায়
Example: There are many countable nouns in this sentence.
Syn: numerable, quantifiableAnt: uncountable
💡 Exam tip: Countable nouns can take singular or plural forms after there.
uncountable[/ʌnˈkaʊntəbəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অগণনাযোগ্য
Alt: যা আলাদা করে গণনা করা যায় না
Example: There is some uncountable water in the bottle.
Syn: mass, noncountAnt: countable
💡 Exam tip: Use there is with uncountable nouns such as water, advice and information.
present[/ˈprezənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: বর্তমান
Alt: উপস্থিত
Example: There are many students present in the room.
Syn: current, existingAnt: absent, past
💡 Exam tip: Present can describe people or things that are currently available.
remained[/rɪˈmeɪnd/]verbmedium
Meaning: অবশিষ্ট ছিল
Alt: থেকে গেল
Example: There remained only two questions to answer.
Syn: stayed, persistedAnt: left, disappeared
💡 Exam tip: Past forms such as there was, there were and there remained show past existence.
will[/wɪl/]verbeasy
Meaning: হবে
Alt: ঘটবে
Example: There will be a meeting tomorrow.
Syn: shall, is expected toAnt: will not, won’t
💡 Exam tip: Use there will be for future existence or events.
should[/ʃʊd/]verbmedium
Meaning: হওয়া উচিত
Alt: সম্ভবত হবে
Example: There should be enough food for everyone.
Syn: ought to, is expected toAnt: should not
💡 Exam tip: After a modal, use be: there should be, not there should is.
6. Transformation, Correction and Examination Terms (8 words)
transform[/trænsˈfɔːrm/]verbmedium
Meaning: রূপান্তর করা
Alt: পরিবর্তন করা
Example: Transform the sentence using introductory it.
Syn: convert, changeAnt: preserve, maintain
💡 Exam tip: When transforming, keep the original tense and meaning unchanged.
rearrange[/ˌriːəˈreɪndʒ/]verbeasy
Meaning: পুনর্বিন্যাস করা
Alt: ক্রম পরিবর্তন করা
Example: Rearrange the words to make a correct sentence.
Syn: reorder, reorganizeAnt: disarrange, confuse
💡 Exam tip: Move a long subject after the complement and place it at the beginning when required.
identify[/aɪˈdentɪfaɪ/]verbeasy
Meaning: শনাক্ত করা
Alt: চিহ্নিত করা
Example: Identify whether it is a real or introductory subject.
Syn: recognize, detectAnt: overlook, misidentify
💡 Exam tip: First identify the grammatical function of it or there.
agreement[/əˈɡriːmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: সামঞ্জস্য
Alt: কর্তা-ক্রিয়ার মিল
Example: Subject-verb agreement is essential in there-constructions.
Syn: harmony, concordAnt: disagreement, inconsistency
💡 Exam tip: Check whether the verb agrees with the noun following there.
negative[/ˈneɡətɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: নেতিবাচক
Alt: না-বোধক
Example: There is not any milk in the glass.
Syn: 否定সূচক, adverseAnt: affirmative, positive
💡 Exam tip: Make negative forms with not, no or never according to the sentence pattern.
interrogative[/ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv/]adjmedium
Meaning: প্রশ্নবোধক
Alt: প্রশ্নসূচক
Example: Is there any mistake in the answer?
Syn: questioning, inquisitiveAnt: declarative, assertive
💡 Exam tip: In questions, place the auxiliary verb before there or it.
affirmative[/əˈfɜːrmətɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: হ্যাঁ-বাচক
Alt: ইতিবাচক
Example: There is a solution to every problem.
Syn: positive, confirmatoryAnt: negative, denying
💡 Exam tip: An affirmative sentence states that something exists or is true.
error[/ˈerər/]nouneasy
Meaning: ভুল
Alt: ত্রুটি
Example: Find the error in the sentence ‘There is many books.’
Syn: mistake, faultAnt: accuracy, correctness
💡 Exam tip: Use there are, not there is, before a plural noun such as books.
💡 Exam Tips
• Do not confuse referential it with introductory it; referential it points to a previously mentioned noun.
• In an it-construction, identify the real subject, especially when it is a that-clause or infinitive phrase.
• In a there-construction, the verb generally agrees with the noun that follows there.
• Use there is with uncountable nouns such as advice, information, furniture, news and water.
• Use there are with plural nouns, even when a phrase such as many, several or a number of comes before them.
• Preserve the tense while transforming a sentence: is becomes was when the original sentence is in the past.
• For weather and natural phenomena, introductory it is normally compulsory: It is raining.
• In questions, use Is there...? for singular or uncountable nouns and Are there...? for plural nouns.
• Avoid double subjects such as ‘It is there is a problem’; choose either an it-clause or a there-construction.
• In gap-filling questions, check tense, number, auxiliary verb and the noun immediately following there.