it

/it/

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The word "it" is an English pronoun that is often used to refer to something that has already been mentioned or is easily understood from the context. It is a very common word in English and can be used in many different situations.

Basic Explanation

• Part of Speech: Pronoun
• Usage: "It" is used to refer to objects, animals, ideas, or situations that are not specifically named.

Examples

1. Referring to a Thing:

   • "I have a book. It is very interesting." (Here, "it" refers to the book.)

2. Referring to a Situation:

   • "It is raining outside." (Here, "it" refers to the weather.)

Advanced Usage

• In Impersonal Constructions: "It" is often used in sentences that do not have a clear subject.

  • Example: "It seems that everyone is happy." (Here, "it" does not refer to anything specific but introduces the situation.)

• In Expressions of Time or Distance:

  • Example: "It is 3 PM." or "It is far from here."

Word Variants

• There are no direct variants of "it," but it can be combined with other words to form phrases, such as "that it" or "what it."

Different Meanings

• Informal Use: In informal speech, "it" can refer to a popular trend or something currently important.
  • Example: "That new movie is really it right now!" (Here, "it" means something that is popular or trendy.)

Synonyms

• "This" (when referring to something close in context)
• "That" (when referring to something further away in context)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• Idioms:

  • "It takes two to tango" (Meaning: Both parties are responsible for a situation.)
  • "Make it or break it" (Meaning: A critical point that will determine success or failure.)

• Phrasal Verbs:

  • "To make it" (Meaning: To succeed)

Summary

"It" is a simple but very useful pronoun in English. It helps us refer to things without repeating names and is used in many expressions and idiomatic phrases.

Academic

Noun

1. the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information

Synonyms

• information technology
• IT