How to parse. ...

202

DIFFICULTIES. [Par. 330, 331.

an undue emphasis [III.] 1 would be laid on "is
said.")
(4) "It is necessary to make a choice."
More rarely " this" and "that" are used after
the Subject for the purpose of recapitulation: -
(5) "To fail after a third attempt-that indeed
would be disgraceful."
"It" is also used to prepare the way for the
Object:(6) " I do not think it right to take this course."
(7) " I can make it clear that I am guiltless."
330 " It" often prepares the way for a clause introduced by the Conjunction that: -
(8) "It was then that the cavalry charged," i.e.,
"the cavalry's charging was then."
(9) " When was it that they were in prison? "
(The redundance of it here is shewn by the fact
that in the last example, which is modernized from
Robert of Gloucester, the author omits the it:(10) "' When was that they were in prison? ")
Sometimes the Conjunction may be " whether":(11) "It is doubtful whether lie will succeed."
33I It stands for "( the person," and is the Antecedent
of a Relative Pronoun in(12) " Who was it that said so? "
(13) "Thou art it that hath cut Rahab."
1 The Roman numbers in brackets refer to the " Laws of Irregularity," Par. 198.