Page 436 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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It can also refer to a whole fact, event or situation.
Our passports were stolen. It completely ruined our holiday.
I did all I could, but it wasn't enough.
It's terrible - everybody's got colds, and the central heating isn't working. Wasn't it lovely there!
it as 'empty' subject: it's ten o'clock
We use it as a meaningless subject with expressions that refer to time, weather, temperature or distances.
It's ten o'clock. (NOT "3 ten 6'el6ek.) It's Monday again. It rained for three days. It's thirty degrees. It's ten miles to the nearest petrol station.
it used to identify
We use it for a person when we are identifying him or her.
Who's that over there? '" It's John Cook. (NOT He's l"6h", C66k.)
Is that our waiter? -No, it isn't. (NOT N"6, he isn't.)
On the phone: Hello. It's Alan Williams. (NOT ••• Pm /.itm YliJEiams.) It's your sister who plays the piano, isn't it?
we women, you men
We and plural you (but not other personal pronouns) can be put directly before nouns.
We women know things that you men will never understand. (BUT NOT ilt>6tnan kn6w ... OR They mert willnelft!F ...)
For you used for people in general, see 396.
For the personal pronoun one, see 396.
For the use of he and she to refer to animals, ships etc, see 222. For they, them, their with singular reference, see 528.
For the interrogative personal pronoun wlw(m), see 623.
personal pronouns (2): advanced points
John and me went; us women understand; between you and I
We often use object forms in double subjects in informal speech. John and me are going skiing this weekend.
Me and the kids spent Sunday at the swimming pooL
Us is sometimes used as a subject together with a noun. Us women understand these things better than you men.
And I is often used informally in double objects.
Between you and I, I think his marriage is in trouble.
That's a matter for Peter and I.
I often think of the old days and how you helped Bertie and I. (letter from
Queen Elizabeth, wife of the future King George VI, to King Edward VIII). These structures are often condemned as 'incorrect', but they have been common in educated speech for centuries. (There are examples of me in double subjects in Jane Austen's novels, written around 1800.) They are, however, restricted to a very informal style. They are not correct in formal speech or writing.
personal pronouns (2): advanced points 429
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