http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SynonymMeaningOfIt/gvkdw/post.htm#524085Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:25:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:524085CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/SynonymMeaningOfIt/gvkdw/post.htm#524085http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-524085.xmlWhat is the synonym and meaning of the underlined word 'it' in bold of the last paragraph? It 's unfortunate we're talking about toilets The word it in that sentence has absolutely no meaning. It is a place holder in a grammatical structure. The underlying sentence is this: The fact that we're talking about toilets is unfortunate. Or, simply: That we're talking about toilets is unfortunate . Sentences that begin with a that clause can be transformed by substituting it and moving the substituted clause to the end of the sentence: It is unfortunate that we're talking about toilets . The word it holds the place where the that clause was located before it moved to the end. Compare: That we arrive...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SynonymMeaningOfIt/gvkdw/post.htm#523734Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:25:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:523734Feebs111http://www.englishforums.com/English/SynonymMeaningOfIt/gvkdw/post.htm#523734http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-523734.xmlIn this context and position "it" is used to emphasize a following part of a sentence.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SynonymMeaningOfIt/gvkdw/post.htmThu, 26 Feb 2009 08:25:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:523727bhikkhu19912http://www.englishforums.com/English/SynonymMeaningOfIt/gvkdw/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-523727.xmlAn extract from a newspaper "The Star, Thursday 5 June 2008' Nasa: Toilet trouble won't force ISS evacuation ... "At this point in time, we dont't believe that the ISS would be forced into a de-crewing situation," ISS deputy programme manager Kirk Shireman said at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre. The ISS can use the shuttle's toilet while it is moored at the station, while special bags to collect urine were also available, he said. Disposing solid waste has not been a problem, he added. " It 's unfortunate we're talking about toilets, but that really is the life, the future of human exploration in space," Shireman said. ...-AFP Hello, What is the synonym and...