UNIT 82. There … and It …

A

There and it
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A : There’s a new restaurant on Main street.
B : Yes, I know. I went there last night. It’s very good.
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We use there when we talk about something for the first time, to say that it exists:
– There’s a new restaurant on Main Street. (not It was a lot of traffic)
– I’m sorry I’m late. There was a lot of traffic. (not It was a lot of traffic)
– Things are more expensive now. There has been a big increase in the cost of living.

It = a specific thing, please, fact, situation, etc. (but see also section C):
– We went to the new restaurant. It’s very good. (It = the restaurant)
– I wasn’t expecting them to come. It was a complete surprise. (It = that they came)

Compare there and it:
– I don’t like this town. There’s nothing to do here. It’s a boring please.

There also means “to/at/in that place”:
– The new restaurant is very good. I went there (= to the restaurant) last night.
– When we got to the party, there were already a lot of people there (= at the party)

B

You can say there will be, there must be, there might be, there used to be, etc:
– Will there be many people at the party?
– “Is there a flight to Miami tonight?” “There might be, I’ll check.”
– If people drove more carefully, there wouldn’t be so many accidents.

Also there must have been, there should have been, etc.:
– There was music playing. There must have been somebody at home.

Compare there and it:
– They live on a busy street. There must be a lot of noise from the traffic.
They live on a busy main street. It must be very noisy.
– There used to be a movie theater on Main Street, but it closed a few years ago.
That building is now a supermarket. It used to be a movie theater.

You can also say there is sure/certain/likely/bound to be …:
– There is bound (= sure) to be a flight to Miami tonight.

C

We also use it in sentences like this:
– It’s dangerous to walk in the street.

We do not usually say “To walk in the street is dangerous.” Normally we begin with It …

Some more examples:
– It didn’t take us long to get here.
– It’s too bad (that) Sandra can’t come to the party.
– Let’s go. It’s not worth waiting any longer.

We also use it to talk about distance, time, and weather:
– How far is it from here to the airport?
– What day is it today?
– It’s been a long time since I saw you.
– It was windy. (but There was a cold wind.)