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that and it



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
This similarity is not just a coincidence: Scientists figured out that American | "paw at something" / "paw something"
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that and it #1 (permalink) Sat Jul 10, 2010 13:34 pm   that and it
 

Please tell me when the pronoun 'it' can refer to the whole preceding sentence or idea and when it cannot. In the following sets of sentences, which ones sound better and why?

I take English lessons. I need money for that. (=taking English lessons)
I take English lessons. I need moeney for it. (=taking English lessons)

She is pretty. She knows it. (=the fact she is pretty)
She is pretty. She knows that. (=the fact she is pretty)

Thank you in advance.
Yoohemmi
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that and it #2 (permalink) Sat Jul 10, 2010 14:48 pm   that and it
 

Both sentences are OK in both instances. Basically. 'that' works and 'it' doesn't when the referent becomes more complex in concept (not necessarily in structure).
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that and it #3 (permalink) Sat Jul 10, 2010 14:56 pm   that and it
 

Yoohemmi wrote:
Please tell me when the pronoun 'it' can refer to the whole preceding sentence or idea and when it cannot. In the following sets of sentences, which ones sound better and why?


I take English lessons. I need money for that. (=taking English lessons)
That's okay. "I need money for those." would be better.

I take English lessons. I need moeney for it. (=taking English lessons)
That's incorrect because you mention lessons, which is plural.
'I need money for them,' would be okay
.

She is pretty. She knows it. (=the fact she is pretty)
She is pretty. She knows that. (=the fact she is pretty)
Both are okay.

The one you use is down to preference and the wider context.
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that and it #4 (permalink) Sat Jul 10, 2010 15:00 pm   that and it
 

BN is grammatically correct with 'them' for English lessons, but notional concord easily overcomes that, and 'it' = taking English lessons is an easy step in comprehension for the reader to take.
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that and it #5 (permalink) Sat Jul 10, 2010 15:02 pm   that and it
 

I can live with that :)
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