Основы теории английского языка. Листунова Е.И. - 101 стр.

      It is a great joy to live in the land of Socialism. ...It was his
delight to run into the garden and shake the rose-bush over him
(Mansfield). It was a heavy disappointment to Maggie that she was not
allowed to go with her father in a gig... (Eliot). «It will be necessary for
us all to meet together,» he said (Snow). It had been just splendid
meeting you here (Galsworthy). It was not of the least use my trying to
look wise (Dickens).
      Into Russian those sentences are translated as follows:
      It is difficult to translate this article. — Òðóäíî ïåðåâåñòè ýòó ñòàòüþ.
      It is no use going there so early. — Íåçà÷åì èäòè òóäà òàê ðàíî.
      Occasionally the pronoun ýòî is introduced. — Ýòî ïðîñòî
íåâîçìîæíî ïåðåâåñòè òàêóþ ñòàòüþ â îäèí äåíü.

                  Sentences with the Demonstrative It

      The pronoun it has a demonstrative force when it is used to point
out a person or thing expressed in the sentence by a predcative noun:
      It was his next-door neighbour Mr. Tandram... (Galsworthy). Having
crossed the marsh, I saw a trace of white over the moor... it was a road
or a track... (Bronte). It was a prettily furnished room... (Dickens).
      Compare with the Russian where the demonstrative pronoun
ýòî is used in similar constructions:
      Ýòî áûë åãî ñîñåä... Ýòî áûëà äîðîãà...

       The Various Uses of the Pronoun It as Subject (Review)

      Summarizing the different uses of the pronoun it as subject, we
see that it may be used:
      1. In its ordinary meaning of a personal pronoun serving to
replace a noun of neuter gender:
      I had a book in my hand and began to read it by the firelight
(Gissing). ...The room looks cheerful now. It was awful gloomy before
(Jerome).
      2. As a formal subject in impersonal sentences:
      It was midsummer, very stifling and warm... (Maurier). It was dark,
but many stars shone now (Galsworthy). It was sundown... (Galsworthy).
      3.With the function of an antici patory it:
      ...It was necessary to tap before one could enter (Galsworthy).
...She sang delightfully; it was a treat to listen to her (Bronte).

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