Transcription of Extraposition Postponement of Subject and Object
1 Extraposition Postponement of Subject and Object The anticipatory (Introductory) Subject It Elements of the sentence that are shifted from their normal position to the end of the sentence are either complex and lengthy or under stress (emphatic) or both. For example, when the Subject is expressed by a non-finite (infinitival or gerundial) or a finit clause, it is normally shifted after the predicator and the Subject position is filled by the anticipatory (introductory, dummy) Subject it. The non-finite or the finite clause then functions as apposed or postponed Subject . It(S) is(P) interesting(SC) to watch the children at play(S). Introductory Subject it introduces the real Subject expressed by: Infinitival clauses it is generally the indefinite present infinitive of the active voice (and affirmative form) that occurs as predicator in a non-finite Subject clause it occurs after: o adjectives: It s dangerous to cross the street when the lights are red.
2 O participial adjectives (expressing emotion): It is annoying to be kept waiting. the infinitival clause may have its own Subject introduced by a for-phrase or an of-phrase: It was impossible for me to remain serious. It is hard for him to live away from his family. Gerundial clauses after some adjectives (also infinitival clause could be used): It seems foolish quarrelling over such trifles. It s incredible meeting you in London. after some nouns and set expressions: It s no use, It s a pleasure, It s a good It s no use complaining. a gerund or a gerundial clause is used as postponed Subject in certain types of exclamatory sentences beginning with what or how. What a nuisance (it is) having to wait for an hour. Finite clauses (postponed Subject clauses) the real Subject may be expressed by: o a noun: It s a good thing that you had a fire extinguisher at hand.
3 O an adjective, particularly one expressing modality: It s desirable that all possible doubts and ambiguities concerning this project should be eliminated now. It s essential that the substance be chemically pure. (subjunctive) o the passive construction with the verbs such as believe, consider, expect, know, report, say, think: It is believed that the prisoners will be set free. a dependent question with a rather limited number of openings: It doesn t matter how he got that informations. It is not certain yet when they will move into the new flat. occasionally a dependent exclamatory clause with such opening as: It s unbelievable how easily some people earn lots of money. It s funny how she keeps asking me the same question. The Anticipatory (Introductory) Object It The Anticipatory Object it is used to fill the position of the real Object which is placed in final position, at the end of the sentence (postponed or apposed Object ) for reasons of emphasis or to make it easier to understand.
4 It is normally used after verbs expressing opinion (feel, find, judge, prove, regard He found it difficult to stop smoking). Real Subject may be expressed by: Infinitival clauses: I found it impossible to tell him the truth. It think it fair to help the victims of the earthquake. Gerundial clauses: I think it fair giving him another chance. I find it unwise letting children have too much pocket-money. Finite clauses (postponed Object clauses): nominal clauses functioning as postponed Object clauses are normally introduced by that: You should appreciate it that we are all nice to you. He got it into his head that we were all against his proposal. since a that-clause cannot function directly as Object to a prepositional verb, the introductory Object it is sometimes used. However, both the preposition and it may be dropped in such cases: You may depend (upon it) that he will keep his promise.
5 I rely (on it) that you will be there in time. occasionally a postponed Object clause is introduced by if: I ll appreciate it if you do it without delay. The Emphatic It Cleft Sentences The Subject and the Object of the sentence are made strongly emphatic if placed after the introductory phrase it+be (it was, it will be); the remaining part of the sentence then follows as a relative clause introduced by who, which, that. In this way a simple sentence is split or cleft into two parts see the conversions: Subject : I am not to blame. vs. It s not I who am to blame. The flies bothered me most. vs. It was the flies that bothered me most. Object : I met Mrs. Brown at Selfridges. vs. It was Mrs. Brown that I met at Selfridges. He really misses Mary. vs. It s Mary that he really misses. The emphatic it is used when a whole subordinate clause is made emphatic.
6 It s what you do that counts. A similar structure is to be found in the sentence pattern: it+be+adjunct+that in which the adjunct is made strongly emphatic: It was then that he did it. vs. He did it then. The Anticipatory There Existential Sentences There is a kind of anticipatory or formal Subject used to introduce the real Subject (postponed Subject ) which is usually indefinite. The anticipatory Subject there though originating from the adverb of place there, differs from the latter in many respects it is not stressed and has lost its local meaning as in: There were many people there. The real Subject introduced by the anticipatory there is normally expressed by a nominal phrase containing the indefinite article, an indefinite determiner, pronoun or a numeral: There is a letter for you on the desk. The proofs that there functions as Subject are: its position before the predicator its use in question tags o There s some dust under the table, isn t there?
7 Three main patterns of sentences introduced by anticipatory there: there + be + (premodifier) + (pro)noun + (postmodifier) has the meaning of exist There are still a few sits. there + be + (premodifier) + (pro)noun + expression of place There s a new film on at the Union tonight. there + be + (premodifier) + (pro)noun + postmodifier containing a present (or past) participle + expression of place There is a thunderstorm approaching from the west. The predicator in existential sentences is normally expressed by the verb be, occasionally by intransitive or modal verbs: There was a little pause. There comes a time when you have to face reality. There must be another bottle of wine in the cupboard. Agreement the verb agrees with the real Subject that follows it: There is an orange in the fruit-bowl. There are some oranges in the fruit-bowl.
8 Negation in existential sentences in short negative answers to existential questions, the negative not is used: Is there any beer left? No, there s not. in complete statements no is used: There is no place like home. not is used instead of no before much, many and numerals if the negation refers to these: There is not much time left. there s no + gerund or gerundial clause indicate impossibility: There s no turning back now.
