🎯 Lesson Goal

If you speak an English sentence without including a subject, you’re probably making a mistake. Every single sentence requires one, even if it feels like a simple placeholder.

💡 What you will learn: While Spanish allows you to skip subjects (like saying Llueve or Es tarde), English demands words like it or there to fill that empty space before the verb.[cite: 2]
✅ By the end of this lesson, you can...
  • Stop dropping your personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, they).[cite: 2]
  • Use "it" for weather, time, and distance.[cite: 2]
  • Use "there" to talk about existence (hay).[cite: 2]
⚠️ Careful: Never leave the subject out! Always say It’s raining instead of just "Is raining."[cite: 2]

🔥 Warm-up

Look at how Spanish and English handle sentences differently. Notice how English always requires a word before the action happens![cite: 2]

SpanishEnglishWhat is the difference?
Trabaja mucho.[cite: 2]He works a lot.[cite: 2]English requires a personal pronoun.[cite: 2]
Llueve.[cite: 2]It is raining.[cite: 2]English requires the placeholder "it".[cite: 2]
Hay un problema.[cite: 2]There is a problem.[cite: 2]English requires the placeholder "there".[cite: 2]

📘 Main Rules

Rule 1: Personal Pronouns

Unlike Spanish, you cannot drop I, you, he, she, we, or they. If a specific person is doing the action, you must include them every time.[cite: 2]

Rule 2: "It" as a Dummy Subject

When no specific person or thing is performing the action, it steps in. Use this primarily for weather, time, dates, distance, and general impersonal statements.[cite: 2]

Rule 3: "There" for Existence

When you want to express that something exists (just like hay in Spanish), begin your sentence with there is or there are.[cite: 2]

Rule 4: Imperatives & Demonstratives

Giving a command is the only time you can skip the subject, since the listener is assumed. Also, when pointing to items or ideas, never drop this, that, these, or those.[cite: 2]

🧾 Model Examples

Personal Pronouns 👤

❌ Is studying English today.[cite: 2]

✅ He is studying English today.[cite: 2]

❌ Went to the museum yesterday.[cite: 2]

✅ They went to the museum yesterday.[cite: 2]

Dummy "It" ☁️🕒

✅ It’s raining. / It’s cold.[cite: 2]

✅ It’s 2 p.m. / It’s Monday.[cite: 2]

✅ It’s important to practice.[cite: 2]

Dummy "There" 🗺️

✅ There is a problem.[cite: 2]

✅ There are many options.[cite: 2]

✅ There will be a storm.[cite: 2]

Demonstratives 👉👈

❌ Is very difficult. (pointing to homework)[cite: 2]

✅ This is very difficult.[cite: 2]

❌ Was a good movie.[cite: 2]

✅ That was a good movie.[cite: 2]

✏️ Practice A — Fill in the Blank

Type the missing word or phrase (He, She, It, There, Is, Are).

✅ Practice B — Multiple Choice

Choose the best option to complete the sentence.

🔎 Practice C — Error Correction

These sentences are missing their subjects! Rewrite each sentence correctly.

🧩 Practice D — Unscramble

Click the words in the correct order to form a sentence. You will receive feedback immediately once all words are moved.

🔄 Practice E — Translation Transformation

Translate the Spanish sentence into English, using the exact word given.

🗣️ Your Turn & Beyond

Use this section for personalized practice and real-world application.[cite: 2]

🗣️ Speaking Prompt

Describe your neighborhood in Mexico City. What is the weather usually like? What places exist near your house? (Remember to use It and There are!).[cite: 2]

🏡 Outside of Class

Real-World Challenge:

  • Notice: Watch a short YouTube video in English. Pay attention to how often they use "It is..." and "There is...".[cite: 2]
  • Do: Write down 3 examples you hear before our next lesson.[cite: 2]

✍️ Writing Task