UNIT 83. There ... and it ...

A. There and it'

We use there ... when we talk about something for the first time, to say that it exists:

* There's a new restaurant in King Street. (not 'A new restaurant is in King Street')

* The journey took a long time. There was a lot of traffic. (not 'It was a lot of traffic')

* * Things are much more expensive now. There has been a big rise in the cost of living.

It = a particular thing, place, fact, situation etc. (but see also Section C:

* We went to the new restaurant. It's very good. (it = the restaurant)

* 'Was the traffic bad?' 'Yes, it was terrible.' (it = the traffic)

* I wasn't expecting them to come. It (= that they came) was a complete surprise.

Compare:

* I don't like this town. There's nothing to do here. It's a boring place.

Note that there also means 'to/at/in that place':

* The new restaurant is very good. I went there (= to the restaurant) last night.

* When we arrived at the party, there were already a lot of people there (= at the party).

B. You can say there will be, there must be, there used to be etc.

* Will there be many people at the party?

* 'Is there a flight to Paris this evening?' 'There might be. I'll phone the airport.'

* If people drove more carefully, there wouldn't be so many accidents.

Also: there must have been, there should have been etc.:

* There was a light on. There must have been somebody at home.

Compare there and it:

* They live on a busy road. There must be a lot of noise from the traffic.

They live on a busy main road. It must be very noisy.

* There used to be a cinema in King Street but it closed a few years ago.

That building is now a supermarket. It used to be a cinema.

You can also say there is sure/certain/likely to be something (see also Unit 64E):

* There is sure to be a flight to Paris this evening.

C. We use it in sentences like this:

* It's dangerous to walk in the road. (It = to walk in the road)

It is unusual to say 'To walk in the road is dangerous.' Normally we begin with It...

* It didn't take us long to get here. (it = to get here)

* It's a pity (that) Sandra can't come to the party. (It = that Sandra can't come)

* Let's go. It's not worth waiting any longer. (It = waiting any longer)

We use it to talk about distance, time and weather:

* It's a long way from here to the airport.

* How far is it to the airport?

* What day is it today?

* It's a long time since I last saw you.

* It's going to be a nice day.

* It was windy. (but 'There was a cold wind.')

@p167

EXERCISES

83.1 Put in there is/was or it is/was. Some sentences are questions (is there ...?/is it ...? etc.) and some are negative (isn't/wasn't).

1. The journey took a long time. _There was_ a lot of traffic.

2. What's the new restaurant like? is _it_ good?

3. '--- a bookshop near here?' 'Yes, --- one in Hill Street.'

4. When we got to the cinema --- a queue outside ---a very long queue, so we decided not to wait.

5. I couldn't see anything --- completely dark.

6. --- trouble at the club last night. They had to call the police.

7. How far --- from Milan to Rome?

8. --- Keith's birthday yesterday. We had a party.

9. --- three years since I last went to the theatre.

10. I wanted to visit the museum but --- enough time.

11. '--- time to go?' 'Yes, --- nearly midnight.'

12. A few days ago --- a storm. --- a lot of damage.

13. --- a beautiful day yesterday. We had a picnic.

14. --- anything on television, so I turned it off.

15. --- an accident in King Street but --- very serious.

83.2 Read the first sentence and then write a sentence beginning There...

1. The roads were busy today. _There was a lot of traffic._

2. This soup is very salty. There --- in the soup.

3. The box was empty. --- in the box.

4. The film was very violent. ---

5.The shops were very crowded. ---

6. I like this town - it's lively. ---

83.3 Complete the sentences. Use there will be, there would be etc. Choose from:

will might would wouldn't should used to (be) going to

1. If people drove more carefully, there would be fewer accidents.

2. 'Have we got any eggs?' 'I'm not sure --- some in the fridge.'

3. I think everything will be OK. I don't think --- any problems.

4. Look at the sky --- a storm.

5. 'Is there a school in the village?' 'Not now --- one but it closed.'

6. People drive too fast on this road. I think --- a speed limit.

7. If people weren't aggressive --- any wars.

83.4 Are these sentences right or wrong? Change it to there where necessary.

1. They live on a busy road. It must be a lot of noise. _WRONG; There must be ..._

2. Last winter it was very cold and it was a lot of snow.

3. I wish it was warmer. I hate cold weather.

4. It used to be a church here, but it was knocked down.

5. It's a long way from my house to the nearest shop.

6. Why was she so unfriendly? It must have been a reason.

7. I don't know who will win but it's sure to be a good match.

8. 'Where can we park the car?' 'Don't worry. It's sure to be a car park somewhere.'

9. After the lecture it will be an opportunity to ask questions.

10. I like the place where I live but it would be nicer to live by the sea.

11. I was told that it would be somebody to meet me at the station but it wasn't anybody.

@p168

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1911