7.88 commenting on a fact

If you want to comment on a fact, you can use an adjective describing the fact followed by a 'that'-clause. The link verb has impersonal 'it' as its subject.

• It was sad that people had reacted in the way they did.
• It is true that the authority of parliament has declined.
• It is extraordinary that we should ever have met!
• It seems probable that the world can go on producing enough food for everyone.

Here is a list of adjectives used to comment on facts:

• apparent, appropriate, awful, bad, clear, essential, evident, fair, funny, good, important, inevitable, interesting, likely, lucky, natural, obvious, plain, possible, true, unlikely

After a few adjectives, a clause beginning with a 'wh'-word can be used.

• It's funny how they don't get on.
• It was never clear why she worked all her life as a domestic servant.

For more information, see paragraph 10.43.