Study vocabulary from this article
Use flashcards with SRS system for long-term retention
The pronoun “it” is one of the most useful words in English, yet it often confuses learners. I see students hesitate whenever they encounter this three-letter word — they wonder whether “it” truly counts as a pronoun, how to use it in different positions in a sentence, and when it refers to a noun versus when it does something else entirely. In my experience, the confusion stems from the fact that “it” works in multiple ways that most other pronouns don’t.
This guide answers the core question: yes, “it” is a pronoun, but it does more than just replace nouns. We’ll explore its role as a subject and object, its special uses for time and weather, how to avoid the vague-pronoun trap, and the grammar rules that matter most. By the end, you’ll understand how to use “it” with confidence in your own writing and speech.
Key Takeaways
- “It” is a third-person singular pronoun — it replaces nouns and serves as both subject and object in sentences.
- Subject position: “It is raining” — use “it” when the pronoun does the action or state.
- Object position: “I saw it” — use “it” when the pronoun receives the action.
- Special use for time and weather — “It is 3 PM” and “It is sunny” use “it” as a dummy subject with no specific referent.
- Clarity is key — always ensure “it” refers to a clear, nearby noun to avoid confusing your reader.
What Is a Pronoun? And Does “It” Fit?
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun to avoid repetition and make sentences flow more naturally. Common pronouns include I, you, he, she, we, and they. “It” is absolutely a pronoun — specifically, a third-person singular pronoun that refers to objects, animals, ideas, or sometimes situations.
Example 1: “The cat is sleeping. It is cute.” Here, “it” replaces “the cat.”
Example 2: “The book is on the table. It is heavy.” Here, “it” replaces “the book.”
Example 3: “The weather is nice. It is sunny today.” Here, “it” serves a different role — we return to this later.
It as a Subject Pronoun
When “it” is the subject of a sentence, the pronoun performs the action or enters into a state. Subject pronouns (like it, he, she, they) come before the verb.
Example 1: “The pencil is on the desk. It is sharp.” — “It” is the subject; the action is “is sharp”.
Example 2: “My phone rang loudly. It startled everyone in the room.” — “It” (my phone) performed the action of startling.
Example 3: “The project was challenging. It required weeks of research.” — “It” (the project) required work.
It as an Object Pronoun
When “it” is the object of a sentence, the pronoun receives the action. Object pronouns (me, him, her, it, us, them) come after the verb or preposition.
Example 1: “I saw the movie. I enjoyed it.” — “It” (the movie) is the object of “enjoyed”.
Example 2: “Sarah bought a new jacket. She wore it to the party.” — “It” (the jacket) is the object of “wore”.
Example 3: “The teacher gave us homework. I finished it in one hour.” — “It” (the homework) is the object of “finished”.
Special Uses of “It”
Beyond replacing nouns, “it” has two important special uses that don’t follow the normal pronoun rule. In these cases, “it” is a dummy subject — a word with no real referent behind it, used purely for grammatical structure.
Time and Duration
To express time, we use “it” without a specific antecedent: “It is 3 PM” or “It is 10 miles to the station.” Here, “it” doesn’t replace anything; it’s simply required by English grammar.
Example 1: “It is Monday.” — No noun is being replaced.
Example 2: “It is 25 degrees Celsius.” — Again, “it” is a grammatical placeholder.
Example 3: “It is five kilometers to the airport.” — The same pattern holds for distance.
Weather and Natural Phenomena
For weather, we always use “it” as the subject, regardless of the specific phenomenon: “It is raining,” “It is snowing,” “It is hot outside.” In these sentences, “it” refers to no noun — it’s purely structural.
Example 1: “It is raining heavily today.” — No specific thing is raining; “it” is required by grammar.
Example 2: “It will snow tomorrow.” — “It” is a dummy subject for the verb “snow”.
Example 3: “It is freezing outside.” — The condition of freezing requires “it” as the grammatical subject.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
✗ Incorrect: “The book is interesting. It was raining heavily when I read it yesterday, and I couldn’t put it down.” (Here, “it” is unclear — does the second “it” refer to the book or the rain?)
✓ Correct: “The book was so engaging that I finished it in one sitting, despite the rain outside.” — Rewrite to clarify the antecedent and avoid stacked pronouns.
✗ Incorrect: “My teacher said that homework is important. It makes you smarter.” (Vague antecedent — does “it” refer to homework or what the teacher said?)
✓ Correct: “My teacher said that homework is important because homework strengthens your skills.” — Use the noun again for clarity, or rephrase: “My teacher said homework is important. It strengthens your skills.” — Here, “it” clearly refers to homework.
✗ Incorrect: “When John told his brother about the accident, he told him he shouldn’t worry about it.” (Which “he” is the speaker? Which “it” is the accident or the worry?)
✓ Correct: “When John told his brother about the accident, John said his brother shouldn’t worry about the incident.” — Replace ambiguous pronouns with nouns.
It as an Intensive or Emphatic Pronoun
Sometimes “it” adds emphasis to a statement. This is rarer, but worth noting: “It is the students themselves who deserve the credit” — here, “it” isn’t really a pronoun in the traditional sense, but an emphatic structure called a cleft sentence. In modern English, the more common pattern is “The students themselves deserve the credit.”
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
The most important rule: “it” must agree in number and definiteness with its antecedent. Since “it” is always singular, it must refer to a singular noun. If you’re replacing a plural noun, you need “they” instead.
✓ Correct: “The cats are sleeping. They are cute.” (Plural noun = plural pronoun.)
✗ Incorrect: “The cats are sleeping. It is cute.” (Plural noun requires plural pronoun.)
✓ Correct: “The cat is sleeping. It is cute.” (Singular noun = singular pronoun.)
Emma (student): So when I write “The weather is nice. It is good for the picnic,” am I using “it” as a pronoun?
Mr. Chen (teacher): Great question. In the first sentence, “It is good for the picnic,” the “it” refers back to “the weather” — so yes, it’s a pronoun. But in “It is nice,” the “it” is a dummy subject because weather is a general phenomenon, not a specific thing.
Emma: So sometimes “it” replaces a noun and sometimes it doesn’t?
Mr. Chen: Exactly. That’s what makes “it” tricky. Most of the time, “it” is a true pronoun replacing a noun. But for time and weather, English grammar requires “it” even though there’s no noun behind it. The key is clarity — make sure your reader understands what “it” refers to.
Quick Quiz
- In the sentence “The door is open. It creaks when you push it,” how many times is “it” used, and in what roles?
- Is “it” a pronoun in “It is raining”? Why or why not?
- Choose the correct sentence: (a) “The laptops are expensive. It costs a lot.” or (b) “The laptops are expensive. They cost a lot.”
- Rewrite this sentence to avoid ambiguity: “When Sarah told her friend about the surprise, she said it would be fun.”
- Fill in the blank: “It is _____ (cold/a cold) morning today.” Which word fits better and why?
Answers:
- “It” appears twice: once as a subject pronoun (“It creaks”) and once as an object pronoun (“push it”). Both refer to “the door”.
- Technically, “it” serves as a pronoun grammatically, but it’s a dummy subject — there’s no real noun it replaces. It’s required by English structure for weather.
- (b) is correct. Plural nouns require plural pronouns: “They cost a lot.”
- “When Sarah told her friend about the surprise, Sarah said the surprise would be fun.” Or: “When Sarah told her friend about the surprise, she said the event would be fun.” (Clarify which person is speaking and what “it” refers to.)
- “It is a cold morning today.” Adjectives follow “is”; you can also say “It is cold this morning.”
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Plural Pronouns in English — learn about we, you, they, and possessive forms.
- Master Your English Writing: The Ultimate Pronouns List — a comprehensive guide to all pronoun types.
- Demonstrative Pronouns (This, That, These, Those) — pronouns that point out specific things.
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Pronouns (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “it” always a pronoun?
Yes, “it” is always a pronoun by part of speech. However, it functions differently depending on context. Sometimes it replaces a specific noun (a true pronoun); other times it’s a dummy subject required by grammar (for weather, time, or distance). Either way, it’s classified as a pronoun.
What’s the difference between “it” and other pronouns like “he” and “she”?
“It” is gender-neutral and refers to objects, animals, or ideas (unless a person identifies as using “it” as a personal pronoun). “He” and “she” are gendered pronouns for people. “It” is third-person singular, just like “he” and “she,” but with no gender.
Can “it” refer to people?
Generally, no. “It” is not appropriate for people — use “he,” “she,” or “they” instead. However, some individuals identify with “it/its” as their pronouns, and in those cases, respecting their choice is important. Context and consent matter here.
Why do we use “it” for weather?
English grammar requires a subject for every verb. Since weather is a general phenomenon (not a specific thing), we use the dummy subject “it.” Other languages handle this differently — French uses “il” (it), Spanish uses “está” (is), and some languages omit the subject entirely. In English, “it” fills the grammatical slot.
How do I know if “it” is clear in my writing?
Ask yourself: “What does ‘it’ refer to?” If the answer is obvious from the previous sentence or clause, “it” is clear. If you have to search through multiple sentences or there are multiple possible nouns, rewrite the sentence using the actual noun or restructure to make the referent obvious. A good rule: the antecedent (the noun “it” replaces) should be in the same sentence or the one immediately before.
Quick Test: Check Your Understanding
5 questions to test what you've learned. No sign-up required.