What is an Impersonal Verb?

S2-SA1-0371

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

An impersonal verb is a verb that does not have a clear subject performing the action. It often talks about weather, time, or general conditions. These verbs are usually used with 'it' as a dummy subject.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine it's raining heavily in Mumbai during monsoon. We say, 'It is raining.' Here, 'raining' is an impersonal verb because 'it' isn't really doing the action of raining; it's just a placeholder.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's understand 'It is cold today.'
1. Identify the verb: The verb is 'is cold'.
2. Look for the subject: The subject is 'It'.
3. Ask: Does 'It' actually perform the action of 'being cold'? No, 'It' is not a person or thing actively making itself cold.
4. Conclusion: Since 'It' is just a placeholder and not a real doer of the action, 'is cold' is an impersonal verb phrase. This tells us about the general weather condition.
---Another example: 'It is 5 o'clock.'
1. Identify the verb: The verb is 'is'.
2. Look for the subject: The subject is 'It'.
3. Ask: Does 'It' actively 'be' 5 o'clock? No, 'It' is just used to state the time.
4. Conclusion: 'is' in this sentence is an impersonal verb.

Why It Matters

Understanding impersonal verbs helps you write clearly and correctly, especially when describing weather, time, or general situations. Journalists use them to report on conditions, and writers use them to set a scene in stories. Clear communication is key in any career, from law to social sciences.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking 'it' always makes a verb impersonal. | CORRECTION: 'It' can also be a real subject, like in 'The dog chased the ball, and it caught it.' Here, 'it' refers to the dog, so 'caught' is not impersonal.

MISTAKE: Confusing impersonal verbs with passive voice. | CORRECTION: Impersonal verbs don't have a specific doer, while passive voice often implies a doer (e.g., 'The ball was hit by the boy' – the boy is the doer).

MISTAKE: Trying to find a 'real' subject for impersonal verbs. | CORRECTION: Accept that for impersonal verbs, the 'it' is just a grammatical necessity, not a true subject performing an action.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Is 'It is snowing in Shimla' an example of an impersonal verb? | ANSWER: Yes

QUESTION: Identify the impersonal verb in: 'It seems that the match will be delayed.' | ANSWER: seems

QUESTION: Which sentence uses an impersonal verb: A) 'It is my favourite book.' B) 'It is difficult to solve this puzzle.' | ANSWER: B) 'It is difficult to solve this puzzle.'

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these sentences contains an impersonal verb?

The cat chased it.

It is raining outside.

I like it a lot.

She found it hidden.

The Correct Answer Is:

In 'It is raining outside,' 'it' is a dummy subject and doesn't perform the action of raining. In other options, 'it' refers to a specific object or idea.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

Weather apps on your phone, like AccuWeather or IMD's app, constantly use impersonal verbs when giving forecasts. They say 'It will rain tomorrow' or 'It is cloudy now' to describe conditions without needing a specific doer. This helps you plan your day, whether for school or a cricket match!

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

IMPERSONAL: not referring to a specific person or thing | DUMMY SUBJECT: a word (like 'it') used to fill the subject position without having a real meaning | WEATHER VERBS: verbs that describe weather conditions | TIME VERBS: verbs used to state the time

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job understanding impersonal verbs! Next, you can learn about 'active and passive voice.' This will help you see how verbs change when the subject is doing the action versus when the action is being done to the subject.