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Navitasan Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
It
Can one say:
1-It starts hurting on your backbone and then it moves up to your head.
instead of:
2-The pain starts on your backbone and then it moves up to your head.
I don't think "1" works because "it" does not refer back to anything. The first "it" is just a "prop it" (as in "it is raining").
1-It starts hurting on your backbone and then it moves up to your head.
instead of:
2-The pain starts on your backbone and then it moves up to your head.
I don't think "1" works because "it" does not refer back to anything. The first "it" is just a "prop it" (as in "it is raining").
Top answer
Of course 'it' refers to nothing in your first sentence, since you have provided nothing in the way of context. That doesn't mean that the sentence is wrong, however. What is wrong is 'on'.
- Of course 'it' refers to nothing in your first sentence, since you have provided nothing in the way of context.
- That doesn't mean that the sentence is wrong, however.
- What is wrong is 'on'.
- '
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4 Answers
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Of course 'it' refers to nothing in your first sentence, since you have provided nothing in the way of context. That doesn't mean that the sentence is wrong, however. What is wrong is 'on'. 'It starts hurting in your backbone.'
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You won't find many native speakers talking about their "backbone" hurting. They will instead say that their "back" hurts or maybe (rarely) their "spine" but I've never heard anyone talk about having a pain in their "backbone."
The only possible (and rare) exception would be if someone is making a joke.
The only possible (and rare) exception would be if someone is making a joke.
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Thank you Mister Micawber.
Even if "on" is replace with "in", since "it" does not refer to anything, then the sentence will not mean much, even though it is grammatical. Am I correct?
Even if "on" is replace with "in", since "it" does not refer to anything, then the sentence will not mean much, even though it is grammatical. Am I correct?
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'It' is fine and the sentence is quite meaningful. That is merely a dummy 'it' as it stands. Of course, it refers back to 'pain' in the original post.
PS: I agree with MalRey on the terminology.
PS: I agree with MalRey on the terminology.
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