How do you interpret the underlined “it”?

[Bhikkhu1991a]

Hello,

How do you interpret the following underlined “it”, please? What do they refer to?

The following are excerpts from “English.test.net”:
(1). ESL Lesson: How to learn English grammar?
How to learn English grammar?

(a). … – in context. It's no good learning just the meaning of a new word, or the function of a tense or the use of a particular preposition because you also have to see how they behave in a sentence or in a paragraph…. (Paragraph 2, line 3)

(2). ESL Lesson: Present Simple Tense
"It never gets you anywhere"

(a). Andrew Smodley is a natural worrier. It is something he has inherited from his father — the king of all worriers…. (Paragraph 1, line 1)
(b). It was in the spring when leaves appear on trees and nature prepares herself for renewal. (Paragraph 2, line 1)
(c). …significant part in English life. It was late April and the sun had disappeared behind dark heavy rain clouds but Andrew had already set off for the local pub…. (Paragraph 6, line 2)
(d). …mental faculties: "Two and two make four." It was a different sort of worry that was almost a concern…. (Paragraph 10, line 3)

I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you so much.

Best wishes.

[Alan]

Hi,

Generally 'it' is an impersonal pronoun and can often refer to something that has already been said/written as in 2 a and d The other use is called the 'anticipatory it' because it 'anticipates' or introduces a new subject as in 2 b and c. In 1 a 'it' is used to give the idea of 'there exists' or 'there doesn't exist'.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Bhikkhu1991a]

Hello Alan and others,

I would like to thank Alan for Alan’s kind response. However, could someone please check the following whether I completely understood what Alan had written?

According to Alan, generally 'it' is an impersonal pronoun and can often refer to something that has already been said/written as in 2 (a) and (d). Thus, the underlined “it” in 2 (a) and 2 (b) can be replaced by the underlined words in 2 (i) and 2 (ii):

2. ESL Lesson: Present Simple Tense
"It never gets you anywhere"
(a). Andrew Smodley is a natural worrier. It is something he has inherited from his father — the king of all worriers…. (Paragraph 1, line 1)
(i) A natural worrier is something he has inherited from his father — the king of all worriers…. (Paragraph 1, line 1)

(d). …mental faculties: "Two and two make four." It was a different sort of worry that was almost a concern…. (Paragraph 10, line 3)
(ii) "Two and two make four" was a different sort of worry that was almost a concern…. (Paragraph 10, line 3)

I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you so much.

Best wishes.