question: it, this, that

Language Forum

•main page• •users in this forum• •faqs• •log in•

Threads / Posts

Please notice that each thread may have several posts, and the count of visits only affects to one of them. For example, if a thread has five posts, and a user visits the last one, only that one will be counted. However, he or she will have access to the rest of posts too.

Note too that the language of a page is the language of the thread. If a post is in English, the page will also be displayed in English.

Author: David | Published: 13-03-2010 | Times seen: 948795 | Category: English Grammar: Advanced

Hi
Nothing in the world is smaller than words to express my thanks to you for taking the time to answer my questions. I have some other questions regarding " it" "that" and " this" and I would be glad if you answer them.
Below are some sentences and I would be grateful if you help me to the answers to them. .
What is the answers to the following questions and please explain your reasons for choosing the correct choice.

1) Although I still object to some questions on the exam, I prefer not to think about. any more since I believe in this big world, there is something a lot more important than classes, grades and exams- friendship.
2) It
3) This
4) That

2) I am leaving this country and most probably I will not see my best friend Adam any longer. However, does not have any influence on my friendly relationship with Adam.
1) it
2) this
3) that

3)
My dear professor,
I want to thank you for everything you did for us during the term. Sometimes we used a sentence grammatically wrong, but you always corrected us. . definitely shows that you were sensitive to our English.

1) This
2) That
3) it

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer my questions, Mr. Mike. Please explain your reasons.
Thanks a bunch

Author: Mike | Published: 14-09-2010 | Times seen: 927413 | Category: English Grammar: Advanced

Re: [David] question: it, this, that

Hello, David!

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I have been very busy.

It is not easy to answer the three questions, because the difference between this, that and it can be blurred at times. It depends on what the speaker has in mind.

I prefer this in the three questions because "this" can refer to the previous sentence, that is, the antecedent is the previous sentence. For example:
I arrived home late. This annoyed my father very much.
I arrived home late, which annoyed my father very much. (See http://www.polseguera.org/advanced_english_grammar/relative_clauses.php#return13)

I will not see my best friend Adam any longer, which does not have any influence...
...but you always corrected us, which definitely shows...
I still object to some questions in the exam. I prefer not to think about this.
I still object to some questions in the exam, which I prefer not to think about.

Best regards,
Mike