The Editor’s Manual
Free learning resource on English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style.
Use it as a dummy subject to speak about weather, time, and distance, and to introduce the existence of a situation (e.g., “It’s raining”).
The subject is implied in imperatives (“Please wait here”), certain elliptical constructions (“See you later”), and some nonfinite clauses (“Rita waited, holding her breath”).
The dummy subjects “it” and “there” introduce sentences referring to weather, time, dates, and situations in general. These pronouns fill the slot of subject in such sentences.
The subject is the person or thing performing an action, or whom or what a state or event refers to. Subjects may be simple or complete, and compound. They may also be definite and indefinite, fake and real, empty, and implied.
Split infinitives are grammatically fine in English. Splitting an infinitive can help clarify meaning and emphasize the right word (e.g., “I promise to always be there for you”).