Study materials
These two paragraphs say the same thing, yet they read differently.
A new law was passed in March. Many small firms were affected by the law. Most of them had no time to prepare.
Each sentence starts with something new.
In March a new law was passed. The law affected many small firms, most of which had no time to prepare.
Each sentence picks up the end of the one before.
In the second paragraph the new information at the end of one sentence becomes known at the start of the next. This article explains that chain, how to bring in something new with there is and empty it, and how to move a long part to the end of the sentence.
Known first, new and heavy last
The usual English word order is the subject, who or what acts, then the verb, then the rest. But two principles work on top of that order. What the reader already knows comes first, and what is new comes last. A long, or heavy, part also goes to the end.
A man we had met at the conference last spring came in.
The long subject splits the sentence.
In came a man we had met at the conference last spring.
The long part moves to the end and reads more easily.
Inversion, changing the usual order of subject and verb, and fronting, moving part of a sentence to the front, serve these principles. They are not decoration but a way to put new and heavy information where the reader expects it.
How to introduce something new
English has several patterns that put something new at the end. There is puts an empty there in the subject position, and the new item follows the verb. So there is is usually followed by a noun with a, some or no article, not with the.
There is a problem with the schedule.
A new problem.
The problem is the schedule.
The problem is already known, so no there.
On the wall hung a portrait of her grandfather.
The place is known, the portrait is new.
An empty it does the same with a whole clause or an infinitive. Instead of That they agreed so quickly was surprising you say It was surprising that they agreed so quickly. Instead of To find a flat in Lviv is hard you say It is hard to find a flat in Lviv.
The chain of known and new
In a connected paragraph the end of a sentence often becomes the start of the next. So the reader always builds on what they already know.
The team tested three prototypes. The third proved the most reliable. Its design is now the basis of the new model.
The new is picked up and becomes known.
It is for this chain that parts of a sentence are moved, and the passive is chosen. A new law was passed. The law affected many firms. If a change of order does not help the chain, it is not needed.
Heavy parts last
A long subject stretches the start of a sentence, and the reader waits a long time for the verb. So the long part is moved to the end, and it takes the subject position. This it means nothing; it only holds the place.
That three of the five suppliers had withdrawn was not surprising.
Correct but heavy.
It was not surprising that three of the five suppliers had withdrawn.
More natural.
The subject position is filled by it alone. This or that cannot stand there: It is important that everyone signs, not This is important that everyone signs.
A long subject at the end
Sometimes only part of the subject is long. Then just that part moves to the end, and the short part stays at the start.
The question of whether the data had been checked arose.
A long subject, a short verb at the end.
The question arose of whether the data had been checked.
The long part has moved.
A rumour spread that the factory would close.
The same with that.
A man came in who I had never seen before.
The same with who or when.
In the same way a long object can follow an adverbial if it is much longer: We discussed with the board the plan we had spent six months preparing. With a short object this is not done. You say We discussed the plan with the board.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is a missing it.
Is important to check the data. → It is important to check the data.
The subject position must be filled.
The second mistake is this in place of it.
This is clear that the plan failed. → It is clear that the plan failed.
Only it fills the empty subject position.
The third mistake is the after there is when the thing is new.
There is the problem with the schedule. → There is a problem with the schedule.
A new thing comes in with a.
The first and second mistakes show at the start of the sentence. An English sentence does not begin with a verb, and only it fills the empty subject position, never this or that. The third shows right after there is. A new thing comes with a, some or no article.