it

• 第三人称单数中性代词，用于指代无生命的事物、动物、抽象概念，或作为无人称句中的形式主语。

The singular third-person neuter pronoun in Modern English, used to refer to inanimate objects, animals, abstract concepts, or as a dummy subject in impersonal constructions.

1. Third-person neuter pronoun for things, animals, or conceptsA1formal

   Used as the subject or object of a verb to refer to an inanimate object, an animal, a baby of unspecified gender, or an abstract idea that has been mentioned or is clear from context.

   中性第三人称代词，指事物、动物或概念

   • I bought a new phone. It works perfectly.
   • The cat is sleeping. It looks so peaceful.
   • Where is my book? Have you seen it?
   • The company announced its new policy. It will take effect next month.
   • She loves her job. It makes her happy.

2. Dummy or impersonal 'it' for weather, time, distance, and general situationsA1formal

   Used as a grammatical subject with no specific referent in expressions about weather, time, date, distance, or general circumstances.

   表示天气、时间、距离和一般情况的虚义或无人称的 it

   • It is raining outside.
   • It's 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
   • It's about ten kilometers to the nearest town.
   • It's getting dark.
   • It seems that he forgot about the meeting.

3. Cleft sentence 'it' for emphasisB2formal

   Used in cleft constructions to emphasize a particular part of the sentence, often in the pattern 'It is/was ... that/who ...'.

   强调句中的形式主语 it

   • It was John who called yesterday.
   • It is this book that I was looking for.
   • It wasn't until midnight that they arrived.
   • It is because she studied hard that she passed the exam.
   • It is in Paris where they first met.