Формальное it и it в усилительной конструкции

It часто ничего не обозначает, а только занимает место подлежащего: в предложениях о погоде и времени, перед инфинитивом или придаточным. В обороте it is … that оно выделяет один член предложения. На русский такое it не переводится.

Примеры

• It was cold, bleak, biting weather 1.4Стояла холодная, унылая, колючая погода
• It’s enough for a man to understand his own business 1.10Человеку довольно разбираться в собственном деле
• Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point 1.10Ясно видя, что настаивать на своём было бы бесполезно
• It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful, to put his hands in his breeches pockets. 1.22У Скруджа была привычка, когда он задумывался, засовывать руки в карманы штанов.
• It was with great astonishment, and with a strange, inexplicable dread, that as he looked, he saw this bell begin to swing. 1.16С великим изумлением и со странным, необъяснимым ужасом увидел он, пока смотрел, что этот колокольчик начал раскачиваться.

В тексте 84

• I.1 How could it be otherwise?
• I.2 It was all the same to him.
• I.3 No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock,
• I.4 It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal:О погоде говорят с формальным it: «была… погода». weather неисчисляемое и не получает артикля a даже с прилагательными. biting — от bite «кусать»: о холоде, который «кусается».
• I.4 but it was quite dark already—it had not been light all day—and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air.
• I.4 and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part.
• I.8 “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time.
• I.10 “It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s.It — формальное подлежащее, настоящее стоит дальше: for + кто + инфинитив, «чтобы человек разбирался». Дословно: «достаточно, чтобы человек понимал своё дело».
• I.10 Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew.
• I.10 a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do.
• I.12 The fog and frost so hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed as if the Genius of the Weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.it здесь ничего не обозначает: it seemed — «казалось». as if — «как будто»; после него прошедшее время (sat) говорит о том, что лишь кажется, и по-русски передаётся настоящим: «будто сидит».
• I.13 Now, it is a fact, that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the door, except that it was very large.Формальное it: настоящее подлежащее — всё придаточное с that. Запятая перед that — старая пунктуация, сейчас её не ставят. Рассказчик говорит тоном свидетеля, перечисляющего твёрдо установленные факты.
• I.13 It is also a fact, that Scrooge had seen it, night and morning, during his whole residence in that place;
• I.13 Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley, since his last mention of his seven years’ dead partner that afternoon.
• I.13 how it happened that Scrooge, having his key in the lock of the door, saw in the knocker, without its undergoing any intermediate process of change—not a knocker, but Marley’s face.
• I.14 Half-a-dozen gas-lamps out of the street wouldn’t have lighted the entry too well, so you may suppose that it was pretty dark with Scrooge’s dip.
• I.16 It was with great astonishment, and with a strange, inexplicable dread, that as he looked, he saw this bell begin to swing.Усилительная конструкция It was … that: между It was и that ставят то, что хотят выделить. Здесь выделено, с каким чувством Скрудж это увидел: «именно с изумлением и ужасом увидел он…». Сами it was и that не переводятся.
• I.18 Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels, but he had never believed it until now.
• I.20 “It is required of every man,” the Ghost returned, “that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide;Формальное it и пассив: «требуется от каждого человека, чтобы…». Настоящее подлежащее — всё придаточное с that. require of — «требовать от кого-то».
• I.22 It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful, to put his hands in his breeches pockets.Формальное it занимает место подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив to put в конце: «засовывать руки … было привычкой Скруджа». with Scrooge — «у Скруджа».
• I.23 “How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, I may not tell.
• II.1 WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.
• II.1 It was past two when he went to bed.Время называют с формальным it: it is two «два часа». past two — «после двух», то есть третий час.
• II.1 “Why, it isn’t possible,” said Scrooge, “that I can have slept through a whole day and far into another night.
• II.1 It isn’t possible that anything has happened to the sun, and this is twelve at noon!”
• II.1 All he could make out was, that it was still very foggy and extremely cold,О погоде говорят с формальным it: it is foggy «туманно», it is cold «холодно». Туман и мороз стояли и накануне, в сочельник.
• II.4 Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap,Вопрос с отрицанием, который звучит как упрёк: «Разве не довольно того, что…». it — формальное подлежащее, оно указывает вперёд, на придаточное с that.
• II.5 It would have been in vain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes;Формальное it; настоящее подлежащее — оборот for + кто + инфинитив: «Скруджу было бы напрасно ссылаться». in vain — «напрасно, тщетно». would have been показывает, что он и не стал этого делать.
• II.5 The darkness and the mist had vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground.Два разных it: первое — город (with it, «вместе с ним»), второе безличное, о погоде и времени: it was a clear day — «был ясный день».
• II.9 “but it’s too late now.”Формальное it при словах о времени не переводится: «теперь слишком поздно». too перед прилагательным — «слишком».
• II.12 It was made plain enough, by the dressing of the shops, that here too it was Christmas time again;Формальное it стоит на месте придаточного that here too it was Christmas time. make plain — «сделать ясным, показать»; enough всегда идёт после прилагательного: plain enough — «достаточно ясно».
• II.12 but it was evening, and the streets were lighted up.
• II.16 It was not until now, when the bright faces of his former self and Dick were turned from them, that he remembered the Ghost,Усилительная конструкция it was … that: выделено время. It was not until now that… — «только теперь он…» (буквально «это было не раньше чем теперь, что…»). По-русски отрицание исчезает.
• II.17 Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then?
• II.19 It is enough that I have thought of it, and can release you.”Формальное it: настоящее подлежащее — придаточное that I have thought of it…. «Достаточно (и) того, что…».
• II.20 A very, very brief time, and you will dismiss the recollection of it, gladly, as an unprofitable dream, from which it happened well that you awoke.it happened well that — «удачно вышло, что», с формальным it. Буквально: «сон, от которого — и хорошо, что так случилось, — ты пробудился». awoke — прошедшее от awake «просыпаться».
• II.22 It is enough that by degrees the children and their emotions got out of the parlour, and by one stair at a time, up to the top of the house;Формальное it: «достаточно (сказать) того, что…». Рассказчик обрывает описание.
• III.2 for it is always the person not in the predicament who knows what ought to have been done in it, and would unquestionably have done it too—at last, I say,Усилительный оборот it is … who: «именно тот, кто не в беде, всегда и знает». predicament — «затруднительное, неприятное положение». Насмешка над теми, кто умён со стороны и задним числом.
• III.5 whence it was mad delight to the boys to see it come plumping down into the road below, and splitting into artificial little snow-storms.Формальное it занимает место подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив to see…: «видеть, как… было для мальчишек безумным восторгом».
• III.7 It was not alone that the scales descending on the counter made a merry sound, or that the twine and roller parted company so briskly,
• III.7 Nor was it that the figs were moist and pulpy, or that the French plums blushed in modest tartness from their highly-decorated boxes, or that everything was good to eat and in its Christmas dress;
• III.8 For they said, it was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day.Формальное it стоит на месте подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив: «ссориться — стыд». Слова людей переданы косвенной речью, поэтому is стало was; союз that после said опущен.
• III.9 It was a remarkable quality of the Ghost (which Scrooge had observed at the baker’s),Формальное it стоит на месте подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — два придаточных с that в следующих частях фразы: «замечательным свойством было то, что…».
• III.9 and that he stood beneath a low roof quite as gracefully and like a supernatural creature, as it was possible he could have done in any lofty hall.
• III.10 And perhaps it was the pleasure the good Spirit had in showing off this power of his,Усилительная конструкция it was … that: «именно удовольствие… привело его». Её конец, that led him, стоит только в следующей части фразы.
• III.10 or else it was his own kind, generous, hearty nature, and his sympathy with all poor men, that led him straight to Scrooge’s clerk’s;Здесь закрывается оборот it was … that, начатый в первой части: «именно удовольствие… или же натура… привели его».
• III.12 and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”Формальное it стоит на месте подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив to remember: «вспомнить было бы им приятно». might осторожнее, чем may: «пожалуй, может быть».
• III.15 It would have been flat heresy to do so.
• III.16 It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child.«Может статься, что…»: it — формальное подлежащее, а содержание раскрывает придаточное с that. Запятая перед that — старая пунктуация; сегодня её не ставят.
• III.17 “It should be Christmas Day, I am sure,” said she, “on which one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge.Сарказм: «это уж непременно должен быть день Рождества, чтобы пить за здоровье такого человека», то есть в любой другой день за него никто бы пить не стал. should здесь — «должно быть, не иначе», а I am sure — вставное «уж конечно».
• III.19 By this time it was getting dark, and snowing pretty heavily;О погоде и времени суток говорят с формальным it. get dark — «темнеть»: get с прилагательным значит «становиться».
• III.23 It was a great surprise to Scrooge, while listening to the moaning of the wind,Формальное it: оно только занимает место подлежащего, а что именно было неожиданностью, сказано инфинитивом to hear a hearty laugh. До него Диккенс вставляет длинное описание и после двоеточия начинает фразу заново теми же словами.
• III.23 and thinking what a solemn thing it was to move on through the lonely darkness over an unknown abyss,Косвенное восклицание: what a solemn thing — «какое торжественное дело», затем прямой порядок слов it was. it опять формальное: дело это — to move on, «двигаться дальше».
• III.23 it was a great surprise to Scrooge, while thus engaged, to hear a hearty laugh.
• III.23 It was a much greater surprise to Scrooge to recognise it as his own nephew’s and to find himself in a bright, dry, gleaming room,
• III.23 It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things,it указывает вперёд, на придаточное с that в следующей части: «справедливо устроено то, что…». adjustment от adjust «прилаживать, уравновешивать»: так вещи пригнаны одна к другой, что дурному противостоит хорошее.
• III.24 Here, he takes it into his head to dislike us, and he won’t come and dine with us.
• III.25 Scrooge’s nephew revelled in another laugh, and as it was impossible to keep the infection off;
• III.26 It was their turn to laugh now at the notion of his shaking Scrooge.
• III.28 for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.it только занимает место подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив: «быть детьми хорошо».
• III.28 his pretending that it was necessary to touch her head-dress,Формальное it: «было необходимо потрогать». В жмурках пойманного узнают на ощупь, и Топпер пользуется этим правилом сверх всякой меры.
• III.29 for the sharpest needle, best Whitechapel, warranted not to cut in the eye, was not sharper than Scrooge; blunt as he took it in his head to be.
• III.31 “He has given us plenty of merriment, I am sure,” said Fred, “and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health.it здесь только занимает место подлежащего, а настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив: «не выпить было бы неблагодарно». Отрицание not ставится перед to.
• III.32 It was strange, too, that while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older.
• IV.1 But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
• IV.2 It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud, there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him,Формальное it: настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив to know that… в конце. «Его пронизывало ужасом знать, что…», то есть ужасала сама мысль об этом.
• IV.7 and having trimmed his smoky lamp (for it was night), with the stem of his pipe, put it in his mouth again.
• IV.10 They’d have wasted it, if it hadn’t been for me.”
• IV.12 It is not that the hand is heavy and will fall down when released;it is not that…; but that… — «дело не в том, что…, а в том, что…». Мысль такая: важно не то, что рука теперь мертва, а сердце не бьётся, а то, какими они БЫЛИ при жизни.
• IV.12 it is not that the heart and pulse are still;
• IV.14 and even though we were not, it would be a bad fortune indeed to find so merciless a creditor in his successor.it — формальное подлежащее, настоящее стоит дальше: to find …. «Было бы поистине большим невезением найти…». fortune — «судьба, удача»; indeed в конце усиливает сказанное.
• IV.15 It must be near his time.”
• IV.17 It would have done you good to see how green a place it is.
• IV.18 Now, it wasn’t,” cried Bob, “for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful.Усилительная конструкция it is … that, в которую вставлено сравнение not … so much as, «не столько … сколько». Проще: this was delightful not for the sake of…, but for his kind way.
• IV.18 It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us.”
• IV.20 Say it is thus with what you show me!”
• V.2 “I don’t know what day of the month it is!” said Scrooge.
• V.3 “It’s a pleasure to talk to him.it здесь формальное подлежащее: настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив to talk to him. Скрудж говорит о мальчике в третьем лице, сам с собой.
• V.4 “Why, it’s impossible to carry that to Camden Town,” said Scrooge.
• V.5 It sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met;It здесь формальное подлежащее, настоящее подлежащее — инфинитив to think: «подумать (об этом) послало боль через его сердце», то есть мысль об этом пронзила ему сердце.
• V.6 And it was clear he meant to do it.
• V.7 It is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off.
• V.9 he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms.it — формальное дополнение, оно стоит на месте придаточного с that. it is as well that… значит «оно и неплохо, что…», «пусть уж лучше…»; со вторым as получается сравнение: «ничуть не хуже, чтобы они щурились, чем чтобы болели иначе».
• V.9 and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.