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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

"Impurities"

0Sorry, if it seems a stupid question, but I'd really like to learn the grammar explanation for the following, please:02br
02br
01b00"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this."02b00 In this sentence why do we use 01u01b00It's02b02u00 if the word "01b00impurity"02b00 is in the plural?02br
02br
00Thank you,02br
02br
00Saadi 0-
  

Top answer

02br 00“01b 00It’s” x and y that02b 00 00contaminate our environment- This is a common usage. 02b 02br 02br 02br 02br 0-

— Goodman

  • 02br 00“01b 00It’s” x and y that02b 00 00contaminate our environment- This is a common usage.
  • 02b 02br 02br 02br 02br 0-
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8 Answers
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2br
02br
00Hi,02br
00This is what Iknow.02br
00“01b00It’s” x and y that02b00 00contaminate our environment- This is a common usage. 02br
02br
00In this context, “It’s” refers to the cause(s) 02br
02br
01b00It’s02b00 the artificial 01b00ingredients 02b0
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0 Hi Goodman,02br
02br
00 Well, I understood that in fact there isn't an exact grammatic explanation why we use "01b01u00It's02u00"02b00 with plural nouns, isn't it? Is it the same as to ask for example, why the simple past and past perfect of the verb 01b01u00to cut02u02b00 is : 01b00
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1b00Hi Saadi,02b02br
02br
00When we use “it is” in the context such as yours, it is nearly impossible to come up with an explanation which may fit all the usages.00 02br
02br
01b00It02b00 00is cold and dark outside! – What is 01b00“it”02b00 00 00? one may ask. 00 00It00 –
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Anonymous12cite11b10"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this."12b10 In this sentence why do we use 11u11b10It's12b12u10 if the word "11b10impurity"12b10 is in the plural?12br
12blockquote
11i00I
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0 01b00Hi CB,02b02br
01i00"01b00It's 02b00the impurities in our air and water01b00 that02b00 are doing this."02i00 The original inquiry was why used "impurities" (in plurals) with "it is" ( as singular) which is different than02br
01i00"It can't take a plural verb; in other words,
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Anonymous12cite11b10"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this."12b10 In this sentence why do we use 11u11b10It's12b12u10 if the word "11b10impurity"12b10 is in the plural?12blockquote
10 It's a cleft sentence s
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0Oh, I see! Thanks, Goodman.02br
02br
00Best wishes, 02br
02br
00Saadi0-
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0Hello Cool Breeze,02br
02br
00Very good explanation! Thank you very much.02br
02br
00Best wishes,02br
02br
00Saadi0-
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