The most common expletive pronoun is "it," followed by "there." Here's a breakdown:
"It" as an Expletive Pronoun:
* Structure: "It + verb + that/whether/if clause" or "It + verb + infinitive"
* Example: "It is important that you arrive on time." (The real subject is "that you arrive on time.")
* Function: Used to introduce a clause that expresses a fact or opinion.
* Alternative: You could say "That you arrive on time is important," but the emphasis is different.
"There" as an Expletive Pronoun:
* Structure: "There + verb + noun phrase"
* Example: "There are many students in the library." (The real subject is "many students.")
* Function: Used to introduce a subject and often emphasizes its existence.
* Alternative: You could say "Many students are in the library," but the emphasis on the existence of the students is lost.
Key Points about Expletive Pronouns:
* They don't have any grammatical function beyond filling a spot in the sentence.
* They don't have a referent.
* They can often be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning significantly.
Examples of Expletive Pronouns:
* It: It is raining.
* There: There were many people at the party.
* It: It seems like a good idea.
* There: There is no time to waste.
Note: While "it" and "there" are the most common, other words can sometimes function as expletive pronouns in certain contexts. For example, "here" can be used to introduce a location: "Here is your coffee."
Knowing about expletive pronouns can help you understand how sentences are structured and how they emphasize certain elements.