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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Use of when and that

It was after midnight when I left the office.

It was after midnight that I left the office.

Is their any difference in the meaning of the two sentences ?

Is their any difference in the function of "it" in the two sentences ?
  

Top answer

There is no difference in meaning, and 'it' remains existential. 'When' is much more usual.

— Mister Micawber

  • There is no difference in meaning, and 'it' remains existential.
  • 'When' is much more usual.
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6 Answers
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There is no difference in meaning, and 'it' remains existential. 'When' is much more usual.
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AnonymousIs their there any difference in the meaning of the two sentences ?

Not really.
Anonymous
Is their there any difference in the function of "it" in the two sentences ?

No.
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But I was under the impression that the "it" in the first sentence is a "dummy it" whereas the "it" in the second sentence is
an anticipatory it referring to the noun clause "that I left the office". Please explain.
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Oh, probably- anyway, they have no meaning. If you cannot see that the sentences are synonymous, then you needn't worry about dummy vs anticipatory vs existential 'it's.
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Debpriya DeBut I was under the impression that the "it" in the first sentence is a "dummy it" whereas the "it" in the second sentence is an anticipatory it referring to the noun clause "that I left the office".

This seems correct, but it is a distinction far more subtle than I was expecting you to be interested in.
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No native speaker will parse your two sentences that finely. You left your office after midnight, either way.
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