that/when

Question

It was ten years ago () I began to study English. 1.that
2.when

The problem becomes more puzzling when I see this sentence in my grammar book:
It's exciting when a baby starts talking.
Can anyone explain these two sentences to me?

GPY · Accepted Answer

It was ten years ago that I began to study English. -- there is no contingency or concurrency of actions
It was ten years ago, when I began to study English, that I ... blah blah. -- one action is contingent on or concurrent with another
It's exciting when a baby starts talking. -- one action is contingent on or concurrent with another

Tonyscott · Answer

GPYIt's exciting when a baby starts talking. -- one action is contingent on or concurrent with another

So, does "it" here refer to the baby's act of talking?
My grammar book tells me that this "it" is a preparatory it and this "it" refers to the clause "when a baby starts talking". Well, this explanation makes me puzzled. Surely a baby's act of talking(or "the moment when a baby starts talking") can be exciting, but how can "when a baby starts talking" be exciting?
However, in your explanation, it seems that "it" here refers to the baby's act of talking, and it seems that the grammar of this sentence is the same as the grammar of this "When a baby starts talking, I feel excited."(this is a very easy and comprehensible sentence!). This explanation makes more sense to me.

GPY · Answer

"When a baby starts talking is exciting" is not good English, so "it" does not literally stand for "when a baby starts talking". However, the word "refers" adds a little wriggle room, and doesn't necessarily imply the validity of this literal substitution. As you say, it is the act of talking that is exciting. Alternatively you can think of "it" as referring to "the situation" or "the state of affairs".

that/when

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions