0
Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Linguistics Studies

The "IT" in "It's me"

Hi!

I have a question.

Textbooks say that the pronoun it is not used to refer to humans, except for babies (and even that happens not very often, as it has a "dehumanizing" effect). How come such sentences as It's me are possible? Is it a kind of (reduced) cleft sentence, or what is it? Could somebody clear it up for me?
  

Top answer

Hi, One of the meanings of 'it' is 'the person in question'. ' 'It' is commonly used for babies that are unknown to us, particularly when their *** is unknown. Listen to that woman's baby.

— Clive

  • Hi, One of the meanings of 'it' is 'the person in question'.
  • ' 'It' is commonly used for babies that are unknown to us, particularly when their *** is unknown.
  • Listen to that woman's baby.
  • It's been screaming for an hour.
  • Mary had a baby.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
Hi,
One of the meanings of 'it' is 'the person in question'. eg 'The person in question is me.'


'It' is commonly used for babies that are unknown to us, particularly when their *** is unknown.

Listen to that woman's baby. It's been screaming for an hour.

Mary had a baby. It's a boy.

Men probably use 'it' for babies more than women do.
0

Related Questions