Use of "it'

Question

Can somebody please elaborate on the usage of "it" in the following sentence;

I only have one onion, a deficiency that will make it impossible to cook this dish.

The above sentence is supposed to be CORRECT. Source: some GMAT coaching school in India

ashkanator · Answer

if this was an answer choice on GMAT i would not pick it. this is a wordy version of a better sentence. you don't really need the "it" and it is dangling. the better way would be to say a deficiency that make this dish impossible to cook.
this is what i think but I am interested to see what others have to say as well

fluke · Answer

"it" is not used as a pronoun referring to a noun.
"make it" is an idiom.

"Having just one onion" is the deficiency. Thus, that's also correct.

Not the best sentence in the world, but not incorrect I believe.

willigetmylifeback · Answer

I don't think the sentence is correctly written. The usage of 'It' is ambigous here.

Posted from my mobile device

brandy96 · Answer

in this sentence 'it' does not have any antecedent.

toughmat · Answer

Placeholder it used to postpone the infinitive subject to cook this dish.
IMO the sentence is correct

brandy96 · Answer

Can you Please give some more examples on 'infinitive subject'?

mba4viplav · Answer

"It" seems to be right. As Ashkanator said, we can have a better form of the sentence.

pkmme · Answer

i agree, the sentence is correct. It can be improved.

Use of "it'

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