What Are Impersonal Verbs? A Simple Explanation with Examples

When learning English, you may come across sentences like, “It is raining” or “It seems strange.” These sentences include what we call impersonal verbs—a fascinating part of grammar that’s easier to master than you might think. In this guide, we’ll explore what impersonal verbs are, how they work, and why they are essential for clear communication.

What Are Impersonal Verbs?

Impersonal verbs are verbs that do not refer to a specific subject. Instead, they often describe actions, events, or states in a general way. These verbs typically use placeholders like “it” or “there” as their grammatical subject. This makes the sentence feel neutral, without pointing to a particular person or thing.

Examples of impersonal verbs:

• It is raining.
• It seems likely that he will win.
• There is a book on the table.

In these examples, the verbs “is raining,” “seems,” and “is” are impersonal because they don’t describe an action tied to a specific person or object.

Why Are Impersonal Verbs Important?

Using impersonal verbs helps make sentences more general and versatile. For example:

• Instead of saying, “I feel cold,” you can say, “It is cold.”
  This shifts the focus from the person to the general state or condition, making the sentence more objective.

Key Characteristics of Impersonal Verbs

1. Neutral Subject:
   Impersonal verbs often use “it” or “there” as their subject. These words act as placeholders, keeping the sentence grammatically correct.
• Example: It seems like a good idea.
2. Focus on General Actions or States:
   The verbs typically describe weather, time, existence, or general conditions.
• Examples:
• It’s sunny today.
• There was a loud noise outside.
3. Common in Weather and Time Expressions:
   Many impersonal verbs are used in weather-related or time-related sentences.
• Examples:
• It is snowing.
• It is 5 o’clock.

Common Examples of Impersonal Verbs

Here are some everyday situations where you might encounter impersonal verbs:

1. Weather:
• It is raining.
• It was cloudy yesterday.
2. Time:
• It is late.
• It is time to go.
3. Existence or Presence:
• There are many stars in the sky.
• There was a phone call for you.
4. General Conditions:
• It seems strange.
• It appears that he forgot.

Impersonal Verbs Examples

• be 
• blizzard
• come to 
• darken 
• drizzle
• get
• go without saying
• hail
• hapen
• look like
• occur
• pour 
• rain 
• say
• sleet
• snow
• storm
• thunder

How to Use Impersonal Verbs in Sentences

Learning how to use impersonal verbs is simple! Just remember the following tips:

1. Start with a Placeholder Subject:
   Use “it” or “there” at the beginning of the sentence.
• Example: It looks like it might rain.
2. Follow with the Verb:
   Add the verb that describes the action, condition, or state.
• Example: There is a cat on the roof.
3. Keep It General:
   Ensure the sentence doesn’t point to a specific person or object.
• Example: It’s getting late.

Practice Examples with Impersonal Verbs

Let’s try a few sentences together. Can you spot the impersonal verbs?

1. It is snowing heavily outside.
2. There are many people in the park today.
3. It feels strange to be here alone.

Answers:

1. “Is snowing” is an impersonal verb.
2. “Are” is an impersonal verb.
3. “Feels” is an impersonal verb.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the Placeholder Subject:
   Without “it” or “there,” the sentence may feel incomplete.
• Incorrect: Is raining.
• Correct: It is raining.
2. Mixing Up Subjects:
   Make sure to keep the sentence neutral.
• Incorrect: I seems happy.
• Correct: It seems like you are happy.

Why Learning Impersonal Verbs Matters

Mastering impersonal verbs makes your English more natural and fluent. These verbs are used in everyday conversations, weather reports, and even formal writing. By understanding and practicing them, you’ll be able to express ideas more clearly and effectively.

Conclusion

Impersonal verbs may sound complex at first, but they’re straightforward once you understand how they work. From describing the weather to discussing time and general conditions, these verbs are a key part of English grammar. Practice identifying and using impersonal verbs in your sentences, and you’ll soon find them second nature.

Keep exploring, keep practicing, and you’ll master English grammar step by step!