Usage of 'it'

[gmatwork]

Hi,

I sometimes get confused between the regular usage of 'it' and the place holder usage (in which 'it' is used a place holder). Can you please help me in understanding how to avoid mixing up the two uses of 'it' ?

[tim]

can you give examples of what you mean by "regular usage" and "place holder"?

[gmatwork]

Regular usage -(it has an antecedent)

The book was expensive since it was a bestseller.

Place Holder -(it does not have an antecedent)

It is a wonderful day.

[tim]

sounds like you have a good understanding of the difference between these two. as long as you have a couple of canonical examples such as these in mind, you should be able to tell the difference just fine..