英语中"it"的用法较多，如果它在句子中作非人称主语、先行代词或构成强调句和某些习语中惯用的一部分时，译为中文往往可以省略，不必 受原文的拘束。

Examples:
　　* It was just growing dark as she shut the garden gate.
　　　她关上花园门时，已是夜暮降临的时候了。
　　* If it hadn't been for you, I don't know what I would have done.
　　　要不是你，我真不知道会干出什么事来呢。
　　* It so happened that they were away.
　　　就这样巧，他们不在。
　　* I take it (that) you didn't love your mother.
　　　我的印象是你并不爱你母亲。
　　* It was someone called Mary Jordan that I was asking about.
　　　我要打听的是一个叫玛丽·乔丹的人。
　　* Peter has always enjoyed claiming that it was he and not George who was the first to reach the summit of the mountain.
　　　彼得一直津津乐道的是，第一个到达山顶的并不是乔治，而是他自己。
　　* Rumor has it (that) he is going to leave town.
　　　谣传他打算离开本城。
　　* If the teacher sees you doing that, you'll catch it.
　　　老师要是看见你那样做，会批评你的。