Personal Pronoun IT — Subject and Object for Things and Animals

ByKhamis Maiouf
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Quick Answer

It can refer to a singular thing or animal. It is also used as the subject in expressions about weather and time: It is cold. It is six o’clock. The subject and object forms are the same.

Example: My phone is new. It works well.

IT in Action — See the Pattern

  • My phone is new. It works well. — It refers to the phone.
  • I bought it yesterday. — It is an object referring to the phone.
  • It is raining. — It supplies the subject in a weather expression.

When to Use IT

Use it when the context makes the thing clear: I found a key. It was under the chair. For several things, use they or them: The keys are here. I found them.

It is common for an animal when its sex is unknown or unimportant. People also use he or she for animals, especially pets they know. It is not a rule that every animal must be called it.

In positive present-simple statements, use forms such as it works, it goes, it has and it is. After does, doesn’t or can, use the base form: Does it work? It doesn’t work. It can work.

Compare it, its and it’s. Its goes before a noun to show possession or a connection: its colour. It’s means it is or it has: It’s cold. It’s been a long day.

The Rule in One Line: It has the same subject and object form. Keep it, possessive its and the contraction it’s separate.

Real-Life Examples With IT

Read the sentence and notice the job of the highlighted pronoun.

  • It is raining heavily. — A weather expression.
  • It is six o’clock. — A time expression.
  • My phone is broken. It doesn’t work. — It refers to my phone.
  • The dog is hungry. Feed it, please. — It is the object of feed.
  • I like this song. Play it again. — It refers to one song.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With IT

Compare each incorrect full sentence (✗) with its correction (✓).

Use possessive its before fur

✗ The cat is licking it’s fur.
✓ The cat is licking its fur.

Its links the fur to the cat. It is fur does not fit here.

Use it’s for it is

✗ Its raining today.
✓ It’s raining today.

It’s is short for it is in this sentence.

Check present-simple statements

✗ It work well.
✓ It works well.

Use works in this positive statement, but work after does or can.

Remember: It has the same subject and object form. Keep it, possessive its and the contraction it’s separate.

Test Yourself: IT

Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.

Question 1 of 5

1. _______ is raining today.

2. The dog is hungry. Feed _______, please.

3. _______ is six o’clock.

4. My phone is old. _______ doesn’t work very well.

5. In “It’s been a long day”, what does “it’s” mean?

Practise the pattern

Name an object near you. Write one sentence with It is and another with I use it. Add a sentence about its colour.

Next, practise we for the speaker together with other people.

Next lesson: Personal Pronoun WE — How to Talk About Yourself and Others

Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.

Further reference: British Council: present simple.

Further reference: Cambridge: it’s and its.

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