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General English · A1

There or it?

Introduce something with there, then describe it with it. Use it for weather, time and distance too.

What you will learn

  • Introduce existence with there + be.
  • Refer back to a singular thing with it.
  • Use it for weather, time and distance.

There biror narsa borligini bildiradi. Oldin aytilgan bitta narsani tasvirlash uchun it ishlatiladi. Ob-havo, vaqt va masofa haqida ham it kerak.

There is a café introduces a café into the conversation. It is small describes that café after we know which one you mean. There answers ‘What exists?’; it can refer to a known singular thing. English also uses it as a subject in expressions of weather, time and distance: It’s cold. It’s six o’clock. It’s two kilometres to the station. These sentences still need a subject even when Uzbek does not use one.

Grammar Tables

On small screens, swipe tables sideways.

Introduce, then describe
Existence: thereKnown thing: it
There is a bus outside.It is blue.
There was a letter for me.It was from my aunt.
Is there a lift?Is it working?
Other uses of it
MeaningStatementQuestion
weatherIt is windy.Is it windy?
timeIt is half past two.What time is it?
distanceIt is far from here.Is it far from here?
dayIt is Monday.What day is it?

Examples

New thing, then reference

There’s a book on the chair. It’s mine.

Stulda kitob bor. U meniki.

Weather and existence

It’s sunny, but there are clouds near the hills.

Havo quyoshli, lekin tepaliklar yonida bulutlar bor.

Two different questions

Is there a shop nearby? Is it open?

Yaqinda do‘kon bormi? U ochiqmi?

Time

It’s ten minutes to nine.

Soat to‘qqizga o‘n daqiqa qoldi.

Distance

It’s three kilometres from my home to school.

Uyimdan maktabgacha uch kilometr.

Common Mistakes

Avoid: It is a bank near here. (To say one exists.)

Use: There is a bank near here.

Use there to introduce the existence of a bank.

Avoid: There is cold today.

Use: It is cold today.

Weather with an adjective needs it, not there.

Avoid: Is six o’clock.

Use: It is six o’clock.

English time expressions need the subject it.

Avoid: There’s a new café. There is very nice.

Use: There’s a new café. It is very nice.

The second sentence describes the café already mentioned.

Practice & Feedback

Practise freely. Scores stay on this page only and reset when you leave or reload. Feedback appears after checking each exercise.

1 · Existence or description?

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. ___ is a message for you. (Introduce a new message.)
2. I read the message. ___ is from Omar.
3. ___ are two towels in the bathroom.
4. The bathroom is small, but ___ is clean.
5. ___ was a noise outside. (Say a noise occurred.)
6. Where is my coat? ___ is on the sofa.
7. Is ___ a swimming pool at the hotel?
8. You know that pool. Is ___ deep?
9. ___ isn’t any coffee left.
10. I tried the coffee. ___ was delicious.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

2 · Write there or it

Write only there or it.

1. ___ is snowing outside.
2. ___ is a little snow on the car. (Introduce the snow.)
3. What time is ___?
4. ___ is Saturday today.
5. Is ___ far to the airport?
6. ___ were six people at the table.
7. My phone is old. ___ still works.
8. ___ was hot yesterday.
9. ___ wasn’t a train after ten. (No train was available.)
10. The train was late. ___ arrived at eleven.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

3 · Choose by meaning

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Introduce a dog in the garden.
2. Describe the weather.
3. A: Is there a lift? B: Yes, ___.
4. A: Is the lift working? B: Yes, ___.
5. Say the time.
6. Say that no chairs are available.
7. Describe a known museum: ‘The museum is old. ___.’
8. Ask about distance.
9. Introduce an event in the past.
10. There are two cafés. ___ are both open.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

Review

  • There introduces existence; it describes a known singular thing.
  • Use it for weather, clock time, the day and distance.
  • English sentences need a subject: It’s cold, not Is cold.
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