29c Overcome certain challenges when writing sentences in English.

Omitted subjects

Some languages do not require a subject in every sentence. Every English sentence, however, needs a subject.

EXCEPTION: In commands, the subject you is understood but not present in the sentence: Give me the book.

The word it may be used as the subject of a sentence describing the weather or temperature, stating the time, indicating distance, or suggesting an environmental fact.

Do not omit it in such sentences.

It is raining in the valley and snowing in the mountains.

It is 9:15 a.m.

It is three hundred miles to Chicago.

In July, it is very hot in Arizona.

In some English sentences, the subject comes after the verb, and a placeholder called an expletive (there or it) comes before the verb.

The examples read,

There are many people here today. (Many people are here today.) In the first sentence: The word there is the expletive, are is the verb, and the words, many people, are the subject. In the second sentence in parentheses: The words, Many people, are the subject and are is the verb.

It is important to study daily. (To study daily is important.) In the first sentence: The word it is the expletive, is is the verb, and the words, to study, are the subject. In the second sentence in parentheses: The words, To study, are the subject and the word is is the verb.

As you know, (insert) there are (end insert) many religious sects in India.

Repeated subjects, objects, and adverbs

English does not allow a subject to be repeated in its own clause.

Do not add a pronoun even when a word group comes between the subject and the verb.

Do not repeat an object or an adverb in an adjective clause. Adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs (when, where). Relative pronouns usually serve as subjects or objects in the clauses they introduce; another word in the clause cannot serve the same function.

The example reads,

The cat ran under the car that (strikethrough) it (end strikethrough) was parked on the street.

Text below reads, The relative pronoun (Italics) that (End Italics) is the subject of the adjective clause, so the pronoun (Italics) it (End Italics) cannot be added as a subject.

If the clause begins with a relative adverb, do not use another adverb with the same meaning later in the clause.