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Taka Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
It
The sentences:
When a new person is added in an office, almost everyone will move his desk so that the newcomer will have his share of space. This may mean moving from positions that have been occupied for a long time, and away from favorite views from the window. The point is that the office will make its own adustments voluntarily. In fact, it is a signal that they have acknowledged the presence of the new person when they start rearranging the furniture.
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About it above, what is it grammatically? Is it one of the "empty it"s as in "It is impossible that he should make such a mistake"? Or is it just a reference term?
IMO, it refers to the statements in front, but I'm not sure on this one.
And what about that above? I think it's grammatically the same as in that of "The information that he was arrested", but again, I'm not sure on this one...
When a new person is added in an office, almost everyone will move his desk so that the newcomer will have his share of space. This may mean moving from positions that have been occupied for a long time, and away from favorite views from the window. The point is that the office will make its own adustments voluntarily. In fact, it is a signal that they have acknowledged the presence of the new person when they start rearranging the furniture.
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About it above, what is it grammatically? Is it one of the "empty it"s as in "It is impossible that he should make such a mistake"? Or is it just a reference term?
IMO, it refers to the statements in front, but I'm not sure on this one.
And what about that above? I think it's grammatically the same as in that of "The information that he was arrested", but again, I'm not sure on this one...
Top answer
Hi Taka, 'It' refers to the whole process of 'the office making its own adjustments voluntarily'. 'That' marks the clause modifying 'signal', as you thought.
- Hi Taka, 'It' refers to the whole process of 'the office making its own adjustments voluntarily'.
- 'That' marks the clause modifying 'signal', as you thought.
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3 Answers
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Hi Taka,
'It' refers to the whole process of 'the office making its own adjustments voluntarily'. 'That' marks the clause modifying 'signal', as you thought.
'It' refers to the whole process of 'the office making its own adjustments voluntarily'. 'That' marks the clause modifying 'signal', as you thought.
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Allow me to pick up this old thread.
As I reviewed this question, I started to wonder if 'it' in question grammatically refers to the content in the when-clause afterward: 'they start rearranging the furniture'.
MM, or anyone else, do you still think that it might refer to the content expressed in front: 'the office will make its own adustments voluntarily' and the when-clause i
As I reviewed this question, I started to wonder if 'it' in question grammatically refers to the content in the when-clause afterward: 'they start rearranging the furniture'.
MM, or anyone else, do you still think that it might refer to the content expressed in front: 'the office will make its own adustments voluntarily' and the when-clause i
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