This / that / it
So apart from dummy it ( it is great to be here, it is important to help the elderly) which CAN start a sentence, IT always refers back to the thing that has just been mentioned? "This" can't refer back to a thing mentioned?
But I know that if I write some grammar construction and ask native speakers to proofread it, the correct way to refer back to that grammar construction is using THIS. I ask " Is this correct, not Is it correct. Here THIS refers to what has just been said. Maybe THIS refers to whole clauses and abstract concepts as opposed to it, which refers to a single countable thing? Are there any guidelines maybe? Thanks a lot!
Top answer
Vladv "This" can't refer back to a thing mentioned? I wouldn't say "never", but not usually to a specific thing . Of course, there is the 'this' that points to something.
- Vladv "This" can't refer back to a thing mentioned?
- I wouldn't say "never", but not usually to a specific thing .
- Of course, there is the 'this' that points to something.
- You show a child something and say "This is a kitty", "This is a doggy", etc.
- But then, this is introductory 'this' (or the 'this' of presentation), so it doesn't refer back to any specific thing already mentioned in the conversation.
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Vladv"This" can't refer back to a thing mentioned?
I wouldn't say "never", but not usually to a specific thing.
Of course, there is the 'this' that points to something. You show a child something and say "This is a kitty", "This is a doggy", etc. But then, this is introductory 'this' (or the 'this' of presentation), so it doesn't refer bac
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