Level 10 – Step 01 : Formal Subject and Existential Constructions (There is no doubt that he will come. It is obvious she tried her best.)
/Level 10 – Step 01 : Formal Subject and Existential Constructions (There is no doubt that he will come. It is obvious she tried her best.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn two special ways English puts ideas into a sentence: the “It” pattern and the “There” pattern.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn two special ways English puts ideas into a sentence: the “It” pattern and the “There” pattern.
🐧Igupen: Why do we sometimes start with It or There instead of the real subject?
/🐧Igupen: Why do we sometimes start with It or There instead of the real subject?
🦉Professor Owl: Good question.
/🦉Professor Owl: Good question.
We use “It” and “There” to make sentences sound natural and to help the listener or reader focus on important information.
/We use “It” and “There” to make sentences sound natural and to help the listener or reader focus on important information.
Listen to the examples and watch how the meaning moves in the sentence.
/Listen to the examples and watch how the meaning moves in the sentence.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What are the two patterns?
/What are the two patterns?
The It pattern (formal subject): We use “It” at the start, but the real idea comes later.
/The It pattern (formal subject): We use “It” at the start, but the real idea comes later.
This makes sentences clear and natural.
/This makes sentences clear and natural.
Example: It is obvious she tried her best.
/Example: It is obvious she tried her best.
Here, “It” is a placeholder; the real meaning is “she tried her best.”
/Here, “It” is a placeholder; the real meaning is “she tried her best.”
The There pattern (existential): We use “There is/are” to say that something exists or is present.
/The There pattern (existential): We use “There is/are” to say that something exists or is present.
Example: There is no doubt that he will come.
/Example: There is no doubt that he will come.
“There” points to the existence of doubt or the lack of it.
/”There” points to the existence of doubt or the lack of it.
How to recognize them
/How to recognize them
It + be + adjective + that-clause → The adjective gives an opinion or description.
/It + be + adjective + that-clause → The adjective gives an opinion or description.
Example: It is important that you study.
/Example: It is important that you study.
There + be + noun → Tells that something exists, happens, or is present.
/There + be + noun → Tells that something exists, happens, or is present.
Example: There are many books on the table.
/Example: There are many books on the table.
Simple rules and word order
/Simple rules and word order
Use “It is + adjective + that + clause” to give opinions or facts.
/Use “It is + adjective + that + clause” to give opinions or facts.
It is easy that is wrong; use It is easy to + verb instead.
/It is easy that is wrong; use It is easy to + verb instead.
Use “There is/There are + noun” to say something exists or is present now or generally.
/Use “There is/There are + noun” to say something exists or is present now or generally.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Ask yourself: Is the sentence saying “something exists” (use There) or “making a statement about an idea or fact” (use It + adjective + that)?
/Ask yourself: Is the sentence saying “something exists” (use There) or “making a statement about an idea or fact” (use It + adjective + that)?
If you can move the main idea later in the sentence, “It” or “There” might be the right start.
/If you can move the main idea later in the sentence, “It” or “There” might be the right start.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
Example 1: There is no doubt that he will come.
/Example 1: There is no doubt that he will come.
“There” shows existence of doubt or lack of doubt.
/”There” shows existence of doubt or lack of doubt.
Example 2: It is obvious she tried her best.
/Example 2: It is obvious she tried her best.
“It” is a placeholder; the main idea is “she tried her best.”
/”It” is a placeholder; the main idea is “she tried her best.”
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 There is a cat on the roof.
/No.01 There is a cat on the roof.
No.02 There are three apples in the basket.
/No.02 There are three apples in the basket.
No.03 There was a loud noise at midnight.
/No.03 There was a loud noise at midnight.
No.04 There has been some trouble with the car.
/No.04 There has been some trouble with the car.
No.05 It is clear that he apologised.
/No.05 It is clear that he apologised.
No.06 It was surprising that they won the game.
/No.06 It was surprising that they won the game.
No.07 It is likely they will arrive soon.
/No.07 It is likely they will arrive soon.
No.08 There seems to be a problem with the computer.
/No.08 There seems to be a problem with the computer.
No.09 It is possible that she forgot the keys.
/No.09 It is possible that she forgot the keys.
No.10 There will be a meeting tomorrow.
/No.10 There will be a meeting tomorrow.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Identify which pattern is used: “It is certain that she passed the test.” (It / There)
/Q1: Identify which pattern is used: “It is certain that she passed the test.” (It / There)
Q2: Change to a There sentence: “A good idea exists in the plan.” → Start with There + be + …
/Q2: Change to a There sentence: “A good idea exists in the plan.” → Start with There + be + …
Q3: Complete the sentence with It + adjective + that-clause: “___ ___ important ___ you save money.”
/Q3: Complete the sentence with It + adjective + that-clause: “___ ___ important ___ you save money.”
Q4: Choose the correct sentence: A) There is many books on the table. B) There are many books on the table.
/Q4: Choose the correct sentence: A) There is many books on the table. B) There are many books on the table.
Q5: Rewrite as an It-sentence: “That he can swim is surprising.” → Start with It is …
/Q5: Rewrite as an It-sentence: “That he can swim is surprising.” → Start with It is …
Q6: Fill in the blank with there is/are/was/were: “___ a birthday party at school yesterday.”
/Q6: Fill in the blank with there is/are/was/were: “___ a birthday party at school yesterday.”
Q7: Identify the real subject in: “It is obvious he likes music.”
/Q7: Identify the real subject in: “It is obvious he likes music.”
Q8: Make a sentence with There + be about your classroom that uses a number (e.g., two, five).
/Q8: Make a sentence with There + be about your classroom that uses a number (e.g., two, five).
Q9: True or False: Use “It is possible to” before a noun clause like “that she will come.”
/Q9: True or False: Use “It is possible to” before a noun clause like “that she will come.”
Q10: Correct the sentence if needed: “There is no informations about the trip.”
/Q10: Correct the sentence if needed: “There is no informations about the trip.”
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: It pattern.
/A1: It pattern.
A2: There is a good idea in the plan.
/A2: There is a good idea in the plan.
A3: It is important that you save money.
/A3: It is important that you save money.
A4: B is correct: There are many books on the table.
/A4: B is correct: There are many books on the table.
A5: It is surprising that he can swim.
/A5: It is surprising that he can swim.
A6: There was a birthday party at school yesterday.
/A6: There was a birthday party at school yesterday.
A7: The real subject is “he likes music” (the clause “he likes music”).
/A7: The real subject is “he likes music” (the clause “he likes music”).
A8: There are five desks near the window.
/A8: There are five desks near the window.
A9: False — use “It is possible that she will come.”
/A9: False — use “It is possible that she will come.”
A10: Correction: There is no information about the trip.
/A10: Correction: There is no information about the trip.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Very well done.
/🦉Professor Owl: Very well done.
Remember: use “There” to tell that something exists and “It” to make a statement about an idea or fact.
/Remember: use “There” to tell that something exists and “It” to make a statement about an idea or fact.
🐧Igupen: I see — “There” points to something, and “It” helps us give opinions or facts smoothly.
/🐧Igupen: I see — “There” points to something, and “It” helps us give opinions or facts smoothly.
🦉Professor Owl: Exactly.
/🦉Professor Owl: Exactly.
Try making three sentences now: one using There is/are, one using It is + adjective + that, and one using It is + adjective + to + verb.
/Try making three sentences now: one using There is/are, one using It is + adjective + that, and one using It is + adjective + to + verb.
Keep practicing and your English rhythm will feel more natural.
/Keep practicing and your English rhythm will feel more natural.
