I came across a very interesting concept.
This pronoun that can work without standing for a noun. it is one of very, very few pronouns that can.
THE ONLY PRONOUNS ON THE GMAT THAT DON'T HAVE TO STAND FOR NOUNS:
It +
description +
that + complete sentence
It +
description +
to + verb
It +
(TO BE verb) + NOUN +
that/who + verb
these "it"s DO NOT have to stand for nouns.
ALL other gmat pronouns must stand for nouns.FIRST TYPEIt +
is obvious +
that Medellín will beat Nacional in Wednesday’s game.
It +
has been said +
that the moon is made of green cheese.
Johnny found
it +
counterintuitive +
that the GMAT tests exceptions to math rules more often than it tests the rules themselves.
SECOND TYPEIt +
is difficult +
to distinguish between a crocodile and an alligator.
It +
is difficult + for most people +
to distinguish between a crocodile and an alligator.
The rain made
it +
quite challenging +
to drive on the freeway.
THIRD TYPE
It +
was my own brother +
who committed the crime.
Courtesy: Ron Purewal
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... tml#p49622