0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Difference btwn 'it' and 'that'

How do you do it?/How do you do that?

It's wonderful./That's wonderful.

I like it./I like that.

In cases like above, how do 'it' and 'that' differ in meaning?

Thank you. 
  

Top answer

" The speaker wishes to call attention to some specific thing previously mentioned. " "She's very friendly. " "I'm planning to go to college.

— Avangi

  • " The speaker wishes to call attention to some specific thing previously mentioned.
  • " "She's very friendly.
  • " "I'm planning to go to college.
  • That takes a lot of money, you know.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
I'd say "that" is more demonstrative than "it." The speaker wishes to call attention to some specific thing previously mentioned. "That is the last time you're going to get away with it."
"She's very friendly. I like that."

"It," on the other hand, may be only the "dummy it," to be explained later in the sentence: "It's wonderful having you here for the holidays."

"It ta
0
0
it = the aforementioned thing
that = the thing or situation in question or indicated

-- How do you like your new house?
-- It's wonderful. = The aforementioned thing (the house) is wonderful.

-- I love my new house.
-- That's wonderful. = The situation of you loving your house is a wonderful situation.

Sometimes bot
0
0
Thanks, Jim.
I couldn't seem to find the handle on the ("it" for thing) vs. ("that" for situation) point.
0
0
Thank you Jim and Avangi

It's sill a bit ambiguous, but the 'thing-vs-situation' point can be helpful.

Thanks again.
0

Related Questions