Thematic Relations

[Donbelid]

Hi everyone.
The question is "Identify the thematic relations associated with each DP or embedded CP..."

"It is raining in San Francisco".

I believe "in San Francisco" is "location".
Then what is "It"?! Is it agent? experiencer? nothings?!

 

[Turner]

Hi everyone.
The question is "Identify the thematic relations associated with each DP or embedded CP..."

"It is raining in San Francisco".

I believe "in San Francisco" is "location".
Then what is "It"?! Is it agent? experiencer? nothings?!

In your example, it is used as a pure dummy it (sometimes called empty it) without a related postponed subject without a verb and adjective phrase denoting weather condition.
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It is also used to denote distance and time. (It is ten o'clock or It is two miles ahead.)
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It simply fulfils the subject requirement in English.
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