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Activities: “How to use expletive ‘it is’ sentences in English?”

By: Annie Lopes, Isabel McKay

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These activities are part of our English Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: Describe the picture

For each picture, create two sentences that start with It is.

Topic: weather
It is sunny.
It is windy.
Topic: time of day
It is seven o’clock.
It is time to wake up.
Topic: time of year
It is autumn.
It is late in the year.
Topic: general conditions
It is crowded on the train.
It is rush hour.
Topic: general conditions
It is slippery.
It is cold.

Activity 2: It is + adjective

Complete each sentence by adding “it is” + an appropriate adjective. Use the list of raising adjectives to help you!

to climb a mountain.
e.g. It is hard / difficult / exhausting / fun to climb a mountain.
If you want to learn English, to study your irregular verbs.
e.g. If you want to learn English, it is important / helpful / smart to study your irregular verbs.
to park in a “no parking” zone.
e.g. It is illegal to park in a “no parking” zone.
to mow the lawn in flip-flops!
e.g. It is dangerous / risky / silly / unwise to mow the lawn in flip-flops!
to be kind to your grandmother.
e.g. It is important / wise / nice to be kind to your grandmother.

Activity 3: Expletive it?

The paragraph below is full of sentences that begin with it is and it was! But which ones use “expletive it”?

Click to select the bold phrases below that use “expletive it.” Leave the other "it is" phrases unmarked.

!It was after midnight when I left the office. Now I can’t find my phone anywhere. !It is probably still at work! !It is snowing now, and I am so tired. !It is very peaceful outside when it snows. My car heater is broken. !It was my only hope of staying warm on the way home. !It is not far from my house now, so I will be there soon. If only I had hot chocolate to drink! !It is! delicious and would be a perfect treat right now! !It was my mom who always told me that hot chocolate could fix any bad day. She was right! !It is looking a little more clear outside which means the snow may not stay overnight. !It is going to melt fast. I will be glad to be home soon and in my cozy bed!

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