The Placeholder Object es
In English, we often use "it" as a placeholder, as in "I hate it when..." or "I find it unbearable that..." German does exactly the same thing with es. When the true direct object of a verb is an entire clause or an infinitive phrase, German often uses es in the main clause as a placeholder (sometimes called a Korrelat).
With Infinitive Phrases
When talking about habits and preferences, verbs like hassen (to hate), bevorzugen (to prefer), or ablehnen (to refuse) often take an infinitive phrase (a phrase ending with zu + infinitive) as their true object. The placeholder es sits in the normal object position of the main clause, and a comma separates the main clause from the infinitive phrase.
| I hate getting up early. | Ich hasse es, früh aufzustehen. |
| We prefer not to change our routine. | Wir bevorzugen es, unsere Routine nicht zu ändern. |
| My boss refuses to work on the weekend. | Mein Chef lehnt es ab, am Wochenende zu arbeiten. |
With Subordinate Clauses
The placeholder es is also used when the true object is a full subordinate clause, typically starting with wenn (when/if) or dass (that).
Remember that subordinate clauses send the conjugated verb to the very end of the sentence.
| He hates it when people laugh about his quirk. | Er hasst es, wenn man über seine Macke lacht. |
You can also use es with verbs like finden (to find) paired with an adjective to express your strong opinion about a situation.
| I find it unbearable that you ignore me. | Ich finde es unerträglich, dass du mich ignorierst. |
| I will not allow you to give up. | Ich lasse es nicht zu, dass du aufgibst. |