'It' as an empty subject.

learning54 said:

Hi teachers,
If we want to describe an activity or an event, we often use 'it' as an empty subject. Is that the case in the answer?

Why must he go to Wilton this weekend?
Because it is Caroline's birthday.

Thanks in advance.

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emsr2d2 said:

The same word/construction is used in many languages, including your own.

¿Por qué se va a Madrid este fin de semana? (From this question we don't know if the subject is masculine or feminine.)
Él va a Madrid porque es el cumpleaños de María. (More natural one, 'Se va porque es el cumpleaños de María.)

I'm aware that in Spanish the pronoun is rarely actually spoken (I have to say that you have an excellent grasp of the Spanish language! Congratulations!!) but nonetheless, "es" is the equivalent of "it is".

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learning54 said:

Hi,
Thank you so much for your reply and Spanish example. I've never thought about it.:shock:

So all the time that in English we use 'it is' it means 'es' in Spanish. It's the first time [STRIKE]I think[/STRIKE] I've thought about it.

L54

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emsr2d2 said:

Thanks for your comments about my Spanish. It's rather rusty and I do have to check a few things online!

Anyway, yes, most of the time when something would be "es" in Spanish, we use "it is" in English.

Es domingo = It is Sunday.
Es mi cumpleaños = It is my birthday.
Es muy hermoso = It is very beautiful.

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