【导入新课】Translate the following sentences into English and tell what tense is used in each sentences.

【板书课题】Unit1 Grammar

【学习目标】1.To learn to use it as a pronoun.

2. To learn to use it as an impersonal pronoun.

3. To learn to use it to replace the real subject or object.

【自学指导】

Task 1

 Using it as a pronoun

(1) We use it for animals and lifeless things.

e.g.  Look at the panda. It is so small.

(2)We use it for a young child when we do not know whether it is a girl or a boy.

e.g.  My aunt will have a baby soon. She hopes it will be a girl.

(3)We use it for an unknown person.

e.g.  — Who was calling you on the phone just now?  

— It was my cousin.

(4) We use it for an action, a situation or an idea mentioned in a previous statement.

e.g.  Reading around the countryside is popular in Guilin, isn’t it?

Task 2   

 Read the passage below and find out what each it refers to. Write the answers in the blanks.

First do it alone, then check the answers in groups.

Task 3

Using it as an impersonal pronoun

We also use it for the time, the date, the weather, the distance, etc.

e.g.  It is 6:30 p.m. It is raining heavily outside.

     It is 1 January today. It is New Year's Day.

In Beijing, it is cold and windy in winter.

It is two kilometres from my school to my home

Task 4   

    The exchange students left for Shanghai. Kevin has made some notes in his diary. Rewrite his sentences with it.

Write down the answers alone,then check the answers one by one.

Ask eight students to read the sentences.

Task 5

 Using it to replace the real subject or object

   Sometimes we use it to replace the real subject or object in a sentence. In this situation, we put the real subject or object later in the sentence in the form of a to-infinitive or a clause.

e.g.  It is very tiring to climb the steps.

     It is popular to hire a bicycle and ride around the countyside.

Task 6     

Miss Thompson, a British teacher travelling with the exchange students, is writing down what she thinks about Shanghai. Help her complete her notes with it.

First do them alone, then discuss the usages in groups..

Ask six students to read the sentences.

【堂清知识】

It is very tiring ti climb the steps.

It is +adj.+(of/for…)+to do sth

 It takes …some time to do sth.

It is said/reported… that…

…thinks/finds it easy /difficult to do sth…

【当堂检测】

1.生孩子

2.打电话给某人

3.占据…的四分之三

4.在…的任一边

5.彼此不同

6.离开…前往…

7.醒来，叫醒

8.到处走走

9.和…一样严重

10.取回