There ... and It ...
When to use 'there' to introduce something new and 'it' to refer to something specific
There: Introducing Something New
Use there is / there are when you mention something for the first time or say that something exists. You are not pointing to a location — you are telling the listener that something is real or present.
- There’s a new meeting room on the third floor.
- I’m sorry I’m late. There was heavy traffic on the highway.
- There have been several complaints about the new policy.
After the thing has been introduced, switch to it to say more about it.
- There’s a new café near the office. It’s open until 8 p.m. (it = the café)
It: Referring to Something Specific
Use it when you are talking about a specific thing, place, fact, or situation that both speakers already know about.
- We tested the new software. It works perfectly. (it = the software)
- I didn’t expect the client to cancel. It was a shock. (it = the cancellation)
There vs. It: Side-by-Side
| there | it |
|---|---|
| Introduces something new / says it exists | Refers to a specific thing already known |
| There’s a problem with the invoice. | I checked the invoice. It’s wrong. |
| There are two candidates left. | The final candidate is strong. It will be a tough decision. |
| There was a delay at the airport. | The delay lasted three hours. It was frustrating. |
A useful test: if you can name the specific thing you are talking about, use it. If you are announcing that something exists, use there.
There with Modals and Other Verbs
There works with modals and many verb combinations, not just is/are/was/were.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| there will be | There will be a team meeting tomorrow morning. |
| there must be | The lights are on. There must be someone in the office. |
| there might be | There might be a delay with the shipment. |
| there used to be | There used to be a parking lot here, but they built offices on it. |
| there is going to be | There’s going to be a restructuring next quarter. |
| there is sure/bound to be | There’s bound to be a queue at the registration desk. |
Compare there and it with the same topic:
There must be a lot of pressure in that role. (announcing that pressure exists)
It must be very stressful. (commenting on what the role is like)
There used to be a branch office in Lyon. (saying it existed)
That building is now a coworking space. It used to be our branch office. (it = that building)
It for General Situations
Use it at the start of a sentence to talk about distance, time, weather, or to comment on a situation.
| Category | Example |
|---|---|
| Distance | It’s about 20 minutes from the station to the office. |
| Time | It’s been a long time since our last performance review. |
| Weather | It was freezing in the warehouse this morning. |
| Situations | It’s not worth rescheduling the meeting for one person. |
Use it (not there) when an adjective or situation description follows:
- It’s dangerous to send passwords by email. (not
There’s dangerous to send…) - It didn’t take long to fix the bug.
- It’s a shame you missed the presentation.
Compare:
- It was very windy. (weather — adjective)
- There was a strong wind. (announcing that a wind existed — noun)
Quick Self-Check
The project is behind schedule. _____ a lot of unexpected issues.
Select your answer:
We moved to the new office last month. _____ much bigger than the old one.
Select your answer:
I heard the warehouse is on a busy road. _____ a lot of noise from the trucks.
Select your answer:
_____ dangerous to open email attachments from unknown senders.
Select your answer:
_____ a printer on each floor, but the one on the second floor is out of order.
Select your answer: