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Yoko Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

It is ... that ～ / It is ... to ～

Hello,

Would you tell me the differences between the following sentences?

In what kind of situations should I use "1" instead of "2"?

1: It is good that you take a walk for exercise.

2: It is good to take a walk for exercise.

Yoko
  

Top answer

You cannot use #1 unless the person you are talking to does, in fact, sometimes take a walk for exercise. You can use #2 in a more general sense, to explain why you like to take walks or to suggest that the other person might take walks.

— Khoff

  • You cannot use #1 unless the person you are talking to does, in fact, sometimes take a walk for exercise.
  • You can use #2 in a more general sense, to explain why you like to take walks or to suggest that the other person might take walks.
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5 Answers
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You cannot use #1 unless the person you are talking to does, in fact, sometimes take a walk for exercise. You can use #2 in a more general sense, to explain why you like to take walks or to suggest that the other person might take walks.
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Hello khoff,

Thnak you for answering my question.

In the #1 sentence,

if I change 'you' to 'we', 'they' or 'peopele',

does the sentene regard as an expression for general people?

Yoko
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No, it remains specific unless you use the verb infinitive "to walk", "to take a walk", "to go for a run". Only then is it general.

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I understood the usage.

Thank you Eimai!
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1: It is good that you take exercise.

2: It is good to take exercise.

I must admit, I would take #1 for a general statement, if 'you' were changed to 'people':

3. It is good that people take exercise.

(But maybe something has escaped me. I am a little fuzzy today.)

MrP

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