Can anyone answer this grammar question?

Question

It's the quarterback whose job it is to score.
Can anyone tell me why the second "it" is necessary and cannot be deleted.
e.g It's the quarterback whose job is to score.
I'm wondering if it's o.k to delete it, but it sounds strange to me.
I'm asking as one of my friends is a ESOL student and I can't answer btw/

Answer 1

In Italian we call this a "frase scissa" ... a cut-and-shut sentence:
(A): It's the quarterback's job [as opposed to someone else's]
(B): Scoring [theme] is a specialised role that belongs to someone in particular [unspecified rheme]
(A+B): It's the quarterback whose job it is to score

The cut-and-shut sentence transposes "theme" and "rheme", transferring attention to the quarterback (new theme). Scoring is the rheme ... probably because it has been referred to in a previous sentence.

The second "it" is required because both elements of a cut and shut sentence require a subject as well as a verb - in this case, the subject is "it" on both sides of the sentence. In English, every verb requires an explicit subject in the form of a noun, noun-phrase or pronoun.

Answer 2

I would eliminate the first "it's." The sentence would read better: "The quarterback's job is to score." If you want to keep the original structure then there are two distinct clauses: one clause "It's the quarterback" and another that modifies the first clause "whose job it is to score." It is an awkward sentence but each clause needs a verb.

Answer 3

It's not the second "it" that is necessary, but the phrase "it is."

"Job to score," has no subject as job can not score. "It is" is refering back to two subjects (quarterback and whose), which is why it sounds confusing.

You can simplify and clarify by saying, "The quarterback's job is to score."

Answer 4

The quarterbacks main objective is to score.

Answer 5

the first "it" refers to the quarterback, the second "it" refers to job. Both have a legitimate place in the sentence

Answer 6

both correct but not the usual way to express! try"Its the quarterback's job to score GOOD LUCK x

Answer 7

Why don't you just write "The quarterback's job is to score." That's much easier to say

Answer 8

It should read,"It's the quarterback's job to score".

Answer 9

Because "it" referes to the job the quarterback has.Job (it).Either way is fine I think,but if your trying to do it the "proper" way you should keep the it.

Answer 10

I would totally change the sentence to make it less confusing, and no need for the it at all. "It is the quarterback's job to score."