dummy it

dummy it (ikke-referensielt 'det'): it used as a place-holder, without reference to anything, typically as an empty subject in clauses concerned with time, distance, temperature, weather (e.g. it is raining; it was too late), or in cleft constructions (e.g. It was English I wanted to study), or as an anticipatory subject or object (e.g. It was very unfortunate that he leaked that information to the press.)