Common Grammar Mistake for Japanese Learners: Forgetting the Subject
In Japanese, sentences often begin without a subject—because it’s understood from context. But in English, every sentence must have a subject, even if it seems unnecessary.
Common mistake:
❌ “Is cold today.”
✅ “It is cold today.”
In English, “it” is needed—even though it doesn’t refer to anything specific. This “it” is called a dummy subject, and it’s used for things like weather, time, and distance.
More examples:
❌ “Is difficult to speak English.”
✅ “It is difficult to speak English.”
❌ “Is a restaurant near here.”
✅ “There is a restaurant near here.”
These “empty” subjects—it and there—are important for making natural English sentences.
Quick Tip: If you’re not sure how to start a sentence, try “It is...” or “There is...” and check how native speakers say it.