Simple Sentences with Dummy Subjects

Dummy subject – It is

You’ll often see sentences beginning with “It is.” In these examples, “it is” has no meaning:

• It’s a pleasure to meet you.
• It’s not often that I meet someone as interesting as you.
• It isn’t possible to do that./It’s not possible to do that.
• It’s not fair that he gets to go and I don’t.

Dummy subject – There is

You’ll often see sentences beginning with “There is.” In these examples, “there is/there are” has no meaning.

• There are only a few people in line ahead of you.
• There aren’t any tickets left.
• There isn’t enough time to do it.
• There’s been an accident.