It or that?
When I ask a friend who's eating an ice cream in front of me if she likes it, should I say 'Do you like it?' or 'Do you like that?' (The former sounds natural to me.) If both are OK, is there any difference in meaning?
I learned that we cannot use 'it' to refer (point) to something directly (deictically). (You don't say 'What's it in your hand?' pointing something the hearer holds in his hand, but you use 'that'.) If it is the case, I should use 'that' in the case above, too...
I would be very grateful if you could help me understand.
Top answer
The problem is we wouldn't be certain what 'it' is; by using 'that' you are indicating (verbally and, implicitly, with some sort of movement of the eyes or hands) the object to which you are referring. 'It' requires you to have already established the object of the sentence whereas 'that' tends to work with some sort of non-verbal indication as to what the object is. Without it, there is no real sense in using 'that' and the other speaker will be just as confused as by using 'it'.
- The problem is we wouldn't be certain what 'it' is; by using 'that' you are indicating (verbally and, implicitly, with some sort of movement of the eyes or hands) the object to which you are referring.
- 'It' requires you to have already established the object of the sentence whereas 'that' tends to work with some sort of non-verbal indication as to what the object is.
- Without it, there is no real sense in using 'that' and the other speaker will be just as confused as by using 'it'.
- So yes, 'that' is the better word to use but should be accompanied by something else non-verbal.
- Without anything non-verbal, use the noun rather than a pronoun to avoid confusion to allow the other person to know what you are talking about.
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The problem is we wouldn't be certain what 'it' is; by using 'that' you are indicating (verbally and, implicitly, with some sort of movement of the eyes or hands) the object to which you are referring. 'It' requires you to have already established the object of the sentence whereas 'that' tends to work with some sort of non-verbal indication as to what the object is. Without it, there is no
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