Language/French/Grammar/Impersonal-subject-restricted-to-il
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Impersonal subject restricted to il
Some impersonal verbs and verbal expressions always take impersonal subject il (and NOT ce, cela or ça):
Expressions of clock time do:
- Quelle heure est-il? Il est 6 heures
What time is it? It's 6 o'clock
- Il est midi
It's noon As do the related time expressions:
- II est temps de, que ...
It's time to, that ...
- Il est tard
It's late
Certain frequently occurring constructions also take impersonal il:
- Il y a (quelqu'un, deux hommes à la porte)
There is/are (somebody, two men at the door)