it
it [-s, -'s] pron
OE hit; third person singular neuter pronoun.
- [Anaphoric reference, pointing back to a previously-mentioned noun in the text] that thing; the one mentioned.
- [Cataphoric reference, pointing forward to a subsequent noun in the text] the event; this thing.
- [Exophoric reference, pointing to a noun not mentioned directly in the text; “It sifts” = “Snow sifts”] this; the thing being described.
- [Phatic “dummy” subject; “It will be Summer” = “Summer will happen”] someday; at some time.