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Hans51 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

On that / this / the front

A Whaling should be banned forever.

B We’re making headway on that front.

I have found this dialogue and I was wondering if 'the' or 'this' can be substituted for 'that' like on the or this front and do you agree that sometime three can be interchangeable for the same meaning or is there a meaning difference between them?

Thank you so much as usual in advance.
  

Top answer

" on that front " is so much used, that it could almost be called a set phrase. The "front" or issue is not close by, it is distant, in this case, global. "

— AlpheccaStars

  • " on that front " is so much used, that it could almost be called a set phrase.
  • The "front" or issue is not close by, it is distant, in this case, global.
  • "
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3 Answers
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"on that front" is so much used, that it could almost be called a set phrase. The "front" or issue is not close by, it is distant, in this case, global. If it were a local issue closer to hand, then you could use "this."
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Thank you so much and then how about 'on the front' here? In this case, there is a meaning difference between on the front and on that front?

And Look at the boy! VS. Look at that boy!

Is there a meaning difference? When can I use the or that?
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Hans51Thank you so much and then how about 'on the front' here?
No. "On the front" has a military meaning.

Look at that boy! (Implies that the speaker is pointing at a boy, so everyone else knows where to look.)
Look at the boy! (Implies you all are already looking at the boy, who has been a recent subject of commentary. Also it could be a
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