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Alexander Malashenko Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Please, explain what is correct vs what is acceptable:
No one has ever been able to answer the following question clearly. The first two examples I know to be correct.
1. “Who is there?” – “It is I.”
2. “I am trying to get a hold of Debbie?” – “This is she.”
3. “Who is there?” –
a. “It’s us.” (?) or
b. “It is we”.
c. “It is them.”
d. “It is they.”
Grammatically, options (b) and (d) are supposed to be correct, yet they sound very awkward. Can anyone explain it clearly?
Thank you in advance…
1. “Who is there?” – “It is I.”
2. “I am trying to get a hold of Debbie?” – “This is she.”
3. “Who is there?” –
a. “It’s us.” (?) or
b. “It is we”.
c. “It is them.”
d. “It is they.”
Grammatically, options (b) and (d) are supposed to be correct, yet they sound very awkward. Can anyone explain it clearly?
Thank you in advance…
Top answer
In real life situations, native speakers would answer 'It's us' or 'It's them'. Similarly, whilst (1) 'It is I' and (2) 'This is she' are grammatically correct, most people would say 'It's me' and 'That's me'. Rover
- In real life situations, native speakers would answer 'It's us' or 'It's them'.
- Similarly, whilst (1) 'It is I' and (2) 'This is she' are grammatically correct, most people would say 'It's me' and 'That's me'.
- Rover
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4 Answers
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.
In real life situations, native speakers would answer 'It's us' or 'It's them'.
Similarly, whilst (1) 'It is I' and (2) 'This is she' are grammatically correct, most people would say 'It's me' and 'That's me'.
Rover
In real life situations, native speakers would answer 'It's us' or 'It's them'.
Similarly, whilst (1) 'It is I' and (2) 'This is she' are grammatically correct, most people would say 'It's me' and 'That's me'.
Rover
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As well as what Rover_KE said, I would add:
2. "I am trying to get a hold of Debbie" is a statement (although it carries an implied question), so it shouldn't have a question mark. Also, many people would reply "Speaking", or "This is Debbie [speaking]" ("Speaking" is just an abbreviated form of "This is Debbie speaking".)
3. I would not answer "It is them" or "It is they", becau
2. "I am trying to get a hold of Debbie" is a statement (although it carries an implied question), so it shouldn't have a question mark. Also, many people would reply "Speaking", or "This is Debbie [speaking]" ("Speaking" is just an abbreviated form of "This is Debbie speaking".)
3. I would not answer "It is them" or "It is they", becau
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The following are by-the-book grammatically correct:
1.
A: Who's there?
B: It is I.
2.
A: I'm trying to get hold of Debbie.
B: This is she.
3.
A: Who's there?
B: It is we./It is they.
However, the response "It is I." for 1. sounds very pompous and snooty. You'd hear instead: "It's me."
"This is she." f
1.
A: Who's there?
B: It is I.
2.
A: I'm trying to get hold of Debbie.
B: This is she.
3.
A: Who's there?
B: It is we./It is they.
However, the response "It is I." for 1. sounds very pompous and snooty. You'd hear instead: "It's me."
"This is she." f
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One more thing.
"I am trying to get a hold of Debbie"
A hold should either be ahold, or just hold. I would say "I am trying to get hold of Debbie". Ahold may be normal in America.
"I am trying to get a hold of Debbie"
A hold should either be ahold, or just hold. I would say "I am trying to get hold of Debbie". Ahold may be normal in America.
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