Postponed subjects

The subject is usually the first element in a sentence. However, if thesubject is a clause, it may be postponed to the end:

      It’s not surprising that James failed his exams.

Here, the subject is the that-clause that James failed his exams. The subject has been postponed to the end of the sentence, and its normal position is filled by it. In the more typical pattern, with the subject at the beginning,this sentence sounds stylistically awkward:

      That James failed his exams is not surprising.

To-clauses may be postponed in the same way:

       It was a good idea to bring an umbrella.
      (cf. To bring an umbrella was a good idea.)

It is particularly desirable to postpone a subject clause when it is very
long:

It soon came to our attention that no one from the area had actually applied for any type of housing benefit.
(cf. That no one from the area had actually applied for any type of housing benefit soon came to our attention.)

Postponing the subject is not always just a matter of style. With some verbs, postponement is obligatory:

It seems that many people are deeply attached to the monarchy.
*~That many people are deeply attached to the monarchy seems.

It appears that his statement had wider implications.
*~That his statement had wider implications appears.

It turned out that his secretary had stolen the money.
*~That his secretary had stolen the money turned out.