How do you use "It (weather & time)" in a sentence?

It's raining. It's 3 o'clock. It's cold today. It's 20 miles to London.

It (weather & time)

Q: What does "It (weather & time)" mean?

Using 'it' as subject for weather, time, and distance English uses 'it' as an impersonal subject for weather (it's raining), time (it's 5 o'clock), distance (it's 10 miles), and general situations (it's difficult to say).

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Using 'it' as subject for weather, time, and distance

用'it'作为天气、时间和距离的主语

Usar 'it' como sujeto para clima, tiempo y distancia

天気、時間、距離の主語として「it」を使う

날씨, 시간, 거리의 주어로 'it'을 사용하기

English uses 'it' as an impersonal subject for weather (it's raining), time (it's 5 o'clock), distance (it's 10 miles), and general situations (it's difficult to say).

英语使用'it'作为非人称主语，用于天气（it's raining）、时间（it's 5 o'clock）、距离（it's 10 miles）以及一般情况（it's difficult to say）。

El inglés usa 'it' como sujeto impersonal para el clima (it's raining), la hora (it's 5 o'clock), la distancia (it's 10 miles) y situaciones generales (it's difficult to say).

英語では天気（it's raining）、時間（it's 5 o'clock）、距離（it's 10 miles）、一般的な状況（it's difficult to say）に対して非人称主語として「it」を使います。

영어에서는 날씨(it's raining), 시간(it's 5 o'clock), 거리(it's 10 miles), 일반적 상황(it's difficult to say)에 비인칭 주어 'it'을 사용합니다.

Examples

It's raining.
在下雨。
Está lloviendo.
雨が降っています。
비가 오고 있습니다.
It's 3 o'clock.
现在三点钟。
Son las 3.
3時です。
3시입니다.
It's cold today.
今天很冷。
Hace frío hoy.
今日は寒いです。
오늘은 춥습니다.
It's 20 miles to London.
到伦敦有20英里。
Está a 20 millas de Londres.
ロンドンまで20マイルです。
런던까지 20마일입니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

It's getting dark.
天黑了。
Está oscureciendo.
暗くなってきました。
어두워지고 있습니다.
It takes two hours by car.
开车要两个小时。
Toma dos horas en coche.
車で2時間かかります。
차로 두 시간 걸립니다.
It's nice to meet you.
很高兴认识你。
Encantado de conocerte.
お会いできて嬉しいです。
만나서 반갑습니다.
It seems like a good idea.
这似乎是个好主意。
Parece una buena idea.
いい考えのようですね。
좋은 생각인 것 같습니다.
It is raining.
正在下雨。
Está lloviendo.
雨が降っています。
비가 오고 있습니다.
It's cold today.
今天很冷。
Hoy hace frío.
今日は寒いです。
오늘 춥습니다.
It's 5 o'clock.
现在五点钟。
Son las 5 en punto.
5時です。
5시입니다.

✗ Don't Say

Is raining. (need 'it')
Is raining.（需要'it'）
Is raining. (se necesita 'it')
Is raining.（「it」が必要）
Is raining.（'it'이 필요）
Today is cold. (say 'It's cold today')
Today is cold.（应说'It's cold today'）
Today is cold. (se dice 'It's cold today')
Today is cold.（「It's cold today」と言う）
Today is cold.（'It's cold today'라고 표현）
Are 5 o'clock. (say 'It's 5 o'clock')
Are 5 o'clock.（应说'It's 5 o'clock'）
Are 5 o'clock. (se dice 'It's 5 o'clock')
Are 5 o'clock.（「It's 5 o'clock」と言う）
Are 5 o'clock.（'It's 5 o'clock'이라고 표현）

Origin & History

Impersonal 'it' subject

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal