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Rambharosey Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

What is "it" modifying?

In the following sentence:

New techniques in heart care make possible the study of the effects of eating habits or exercise in greater detail than it ever was before.

Can someone please tell me what is 'it' modifying? What is the best way of finding this out in such sentence structures.

Thanks,
Bharosey.
  

Top answer

Nothing. The sentence is incorrectly constructed. It should read: New techniques in heart care make possible the study of the effects of eating habits or exercise in greater detail than was ever possible before.

— Mister Micawber

  • Nothing.
  • The sentence is incorrectly constructed.
  • It should read: New techniques in heart care make possible the study of the effects of eating habits or exercise in greater detail than was ever possible before.
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3 Answers
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Nothing. The sentence is incorrectly constructed. It should read:

New techniques in heart care make possible the study of the effects of eating habits or exercise in greater detail than was ever possible before.
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Thanks Mister Micawber. I want to know why 'it' is wrong in the original sentence.
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Because it refers to nothing, is not an existential 'it' of any kind, and does not fit into the sentence structure. Judging from the rest of the correction I had to make, I suggest that the writer started his clause in one way then decided to change it...but failed to add and delete properly.
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