Hi again Chiachen
Yes, the it is should be omitted, but I think that sentence would be better if written ''It is you

Shi AinaHi again Chiachen Yes, the it is should be omitted, but I think that sentence would be better if written ''It is you who controls the work, not the work that controls you. ''Hope this is helpful

"Who" takes the person and number of its antecedent.: ''It is you who control the work, not the work that controls you.''

enoonWho" takes the person and number of its antecedent.: ''It is you who control the work, not the work that controls you.''

Not everyone agrees with you on this. There is an argument that 'who' is a third person pronoun only. The sentence we are looking at could be analysed as "It (the person) who controls the work is you".

fivejedjon enoonWho" takes the person and number of its antecedent.: ''It is you who control the work, not the work that controls you.''Not everyone agrees with you on this. There is an argument that 'who' is a third person pronoun only. The sentence we are looking at could be analysed as "It (the person) who controls the work is you".

If you can change the wo

enoonIf you can change the words and the word order, you can make a sentence parse any way you choose. The sentence actually says it: "it is you".

Fair point. I was trying, not very successfully, to give a simple example with this particular sentence.

enoonIf you can change the words and the word order, you can make a sentence parse any way you choose. The sentence actually says it: "it is you". But there certainly is a tendency to treat "who" the way you say. Neither way sounds all that natural to me. English has some kinks.

Before reading this thread, I was oblivious of this problem!

It is

I already chose: You control the work; the work doesn't control you.
Let's not change the grammar rule: It is you who control the work; let not the work controls you.
I learned the sound rule a few decades ago, unless it's being changed now.

chiachenLet's not change the grammar rule: It is you who control the work; let not the work controls you.I learned the sound rule a few decades ago, unless it's being changed now.

You learnt a rule. Not everybody agrees that it is the rule. There was some discussion about this sort of thing here:

Wasn't aware there really is still some discussion going on.
A rule is a rule, especially if it's a sound and simple one. I, for one, like to follow it.
As for: It is you who are answering me. (Good enough for me) Unless: It is you who is answering me? (accusative)
Or: You are the one who is answering me.