The subjectives in subordinate clause and in main clause

[CrystalSpringston]

HI Instructor,
I have a question in regards to the pronoun subjective of subordinate clause .
Basically, I think if a pronoun is used as the subject of the subordinate clause, the pronoun should refer to the subject of the main clause.(Correct me if wrong)

But Pls refer to the example below:
Long before it was fashionable to be an expatriate, Lucretia Mott made Paris her home.

Obviously it refers to Paris,not Mott.

Why is the construction here legitimate? Thank you.

[Chelsey Cooley]

This is actually a weird use of the word "it". One of the most truly obnoxious things about the English language is that, even though the word "it" is a pronoun, in certain special sentences, it doesn't refer to anything at all. In other words, "it" sometimes doesn't have an antecedent.

The simplest example of this is the sentence "It's raining." That's a perfectly fine, grammatical sentence, even though we technically don't know what "it" is. Here are some other examples:

It's fantastic that you scored a 770 on the GMAT, because you can apply to work for Manhattan Prep.
It didn't surprise me when she scored a 770.
In Paris, it was fashionable to be an expatriate.

These weird or "hollow" its often show up in sentences of the form "It (is/was) ADJECTIVE that CLAUSE". On the test, just remember that they're okay - they represent an exception, but that's fine, because they're grammatical and you can just ignore them and move onto the next split.

[CrystalSpringston]

This is actually a weird use of the word "it". One of the most truly obnoxious things about the English language is that, even though the word "it" is a pronoun, in certain special sentences, it doesn't refer to anything at all. In other words, "it" sometimes doesn't have an antecedent.

The simplest example of this is the sentence "It's raining." That's a perfectly fine, grammatical sentence, even though we technically don't know what "it" is. Here are some other examples:

It's fantastic that you scored a 770 on the GMAT, because you can apply to work for Manhattan Prep.
It didn't surprise me when she scored a 770.
In Paris, it was fashionable to be an expatriate.

These weird or "hollow" its often show up in sentences of the form "It (is/was) ADJECTIVE that CLAUSE". On the test, just remember that they're okay - they represent an exception, but that's fine, because they're grammatical and you can just ignore them and move onto the next split.

Hi Chelsey,
Thanks for your explanation.
As you said, if "it" (in my example) doesn't refer to anything , I have no question on the construction here.
But in the first glance, I didn't think it that way. I thought that "it" stood for "Paris". And if I replace "it" with "Paris" here, it does make sense as well.
So the question is: how do we judge it stands for actual noun or not? The examples "it is adj that+clause" and "it is raining" are popular and widely accepted. I have difficulty in understanding my example.
Pls help. Thanks.

[RonPurewal]

https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... tml#p49622

[RonPurewal]

if I replace "it" with "Paris" here, it does make sense as well.

it doesn't; if you replace 'it' with Paris you get
Long before Paris was fashionable to be an expatriate...
which is a nonsense sentence.

[CrystalSpringston]

Hi Ron, I misunderstood the meaning of the 1st half here.
To be expariate is fashionable. This whole sentence describes the person Mott ,not Paris. So "it" cannot be replaced with Paris.
The link provided is much helpful. Appreciate your reponse!

[RonPurewal]

Hi Ron, I misunderstood the meaning of the 1st half here.
To be expariate is fashionable. This whole sentence describes the person Mott ,not Paris. So "it" cannot be replaced with Paris.

correct.

The link provided is much helpful. Appreciate your reponse!

you're welcome.