It is essential for him to be prepared. (subject)

[sitifan]

It is essential for him to be prepared. (Frank Dauenhauer)
Which does it refer to, "for him to be prepared" or "to be prepared"?

 

[Tarheel]

It is essential. What is essential? For him to be prepared. That's similar to, "It's important that you be on your best behavior." Or: "It's true that I disagree with you."

 

[PaulMatthews]

[1] It is essential for him to be prepared......................................[version with extraposition]

[2] For him to be prepared is essential.........................................[basic version]


In simple terms, "it" doesn't refer to anything.

[1] is an Extraposition construction and [2] is the basic (non-extraposed version).

In Extraposition the it is a dummy element serving the syntactic purpose of filling the subject position; the extraposed element doesn’t give the meaning (reference) of it but serves simply as a semantic argument of the VP.

 

[sitifan]

What's the difference in meaning between the sentences below?
It is essential for him to be prepared.
Being prepared is essential for him.

 

[emsr2d2]

What's the difference in meaning between the sentences below?
It is essential for him to be prepared.
Being prepared is essential for him.

There is no difference in meaning. The first is more common and more natural.