Preparatory 'it' as object

• We use preparatory 'it' as an object when the real object is a long clause or infinitive phrase, placing it at the end of the sentence to maintain balance. This structure is common in professional and technical contexts.
• Structure
• Meaning
• Example
• make it clear that...
• state definitively
• Management made it clear that promotion criteria had shifted.
• find it hard to...
• experience difficulty
• Engineers often find it hard to document glue work.
• consider it essential to...
• view as necessary
• Directors consider it essential to mentor junior staff.
• owe it to...
• have a moral obligation
• We owe it to our team to provide clear feedback.
• take it for granted that...
• assume without proof
• Senior developers take it for granted that systems scale.
• Remember
• Use 'it' immediately after verbs like make, find, consider, owe, and take.
• Follow 'it' with an adjective, noun, or prepositional phrase (e.g., hard, essential, for granted).
• Place the that-clause or to-infinitive phrase at the very end of the sentence.
• Ensure the subject and verb agree with the preparatory structure.
• Examples
• Leaders find it hard to evaluate invisible work accurately.
• We consider it essential to maintain a dual-track career path in Seattle.
• She made it clear that the engineering ladder required more leadership.
• They take it for granted that every calibration meeting runs smoothly.
• Common mistakes
• We find hard to promote engineers without packets.
• We find it hard to promote engineers without packets.
• She made clear that the promotion committee rejected it.
• She made it clear that the promotion committee rejected it.

Complete the sentences

• Managers in Chicago often (find it hard) ____ to measure glue work accurately.
• Directors in Austin (make it clear) ____ that the promotion packet must be detailed.
• We all (consider it essential) ____ to prepare for the calibration meeting.
• Senior leaders (owe it) ____ to their teams to explain the engineering ladder.
• Engineers in Boston (take it for granted) ____ that promotions happen annually.
• She (found it difficult) ____ to advance when being passed over repeatedly.

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