It / This
Referring back to something
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Referring Back with Emphasis
| IT – REFERRING BACK |
|---|
We use it to refer back to things or situations that have just been talked or written about. It does not give any particular emphasis. |
| REFERS TO A NOUN (NP) |
Apple is going to release a new operating system. It will merge the laptop OS with the iPad and iPhone OS.
|
| REFERS TO A SITUATION (CLAUSE) |
Another employee has lost an iPhone prototype. It set off an official search for the missing phone. |
| THIS – REFERRING WITH EMPHASIS |
|---|
We use this or that to refer to something with special emphasis – indicating an interesting new fact has been mentioned. |
| REFERS TO A NOUN (NP) |
Apple is going to release a new operating system. This will be a huge step in merging the laptop OS with the iPad and iPhone OS.
|
| REFERS TO A SITUATION (CLAUSE) |
Another employee has lost an iPhone prototype. This set off an official search for the missing phone. |
prototype (n.) – the first form that a new design of a car, machine etc has, or a model of it used to test the design before it is produced
NP – noun phrase, noun+modifier
It / This
Former / Latter
Referring to an earlier or later mentioned topic
| REFERS TO A FORMER TOPIC |
|---|
We use it to refer to the main or the first mentioned topic of a discussion. The subject is usually a noun or noun phrase. |
| REFERS TO THE FORMER (first) TOPIC |
AppleCar wants to market its auto in the United States first. It is the first tech company to do so. |
AppleCar wants to market its auto in the United States first. It will be a limited release. (the car) |
AppleCar plans a new venture in which it will produce cars with its lithium-ion batteries. It will require a lot of capital.
|
| THIS – REFERRING TO A LATTER TOPIC |
|---|
We use this or that to refer to a new topic, often the last thing mentioned. The reference could be a word, phrase or clause. |
| REFERS TO THE LATTER (last) TOPIC |
AppleCar wants to market its auto in the United States first. This will allow the product to be tested before introducing it to the international market. |
|
AppleCar plans a new venture in which it will produce cars with its patented technology. This has upset the auto industry.
|
topic (n.) – a subject of conversation or discussion
capital (n.) – money used to start a business
venture (n.) – a new business activity that involves taking financial risks
patented (adj) – a legal document that gives you the right to make or sell a new invention or product that no one else is allowed to copy
It / This
Backward / Forward
Referring backward or forward
| IT – REFERRING BACK |
|---|
We use it to refer to a topic that has already been mentioned |
| REFERS BACK TO THE SUBJECT |
Google will release Gaggle a social network for telling jokes. It will be released soon. |
The network has a lot of support among its users. It will be available in over 30 languages. |
| THIS – INTRODUCING AHEAD |
|---|
We can use this or that to introduce or prepare the listener or reader for a new topic, something we are about to mention. |
| INTRODUCES A SUBJECT |
This is the best idea ever! Google will start a social network for telling jokes called Gaggle. |
What do you think about this? Gaggle will be available in over 30 languages.
|
This / That
Distancing
This v. That – distancing
| THIS / THESE |
|---|
We use this to refer to something that is near — physically (location) , temporally (time), emotionally (important) to us. Sometimes the speaker adds emphasis. Other times the speaker indicates a favorable or unfavorable attitude about something. |
| NEAR LOCATION |
I have the estimate in my hand. This is what I need. |
| NEAR TIME |
This is the first time.
|
| NEAR MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY |
I really like this woman. (favorable)
|
| THAT / THOSE |
|---|
We use that to refer to something that is far — time, location, mentally. That – singular; Those – plural |
| FAR LOCATON |
You have the estimate in your hand. That is what I need. Please give it to me.
|
| FAR TIME |
That was the last time.
|
| FAR MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY |
President Clinton — "I did not have sex with that woman." (unfavorable)
|
This – singular; These – plural; determiner – This idea is great; noun – This is great idea.
Pop-Q Deictics and Adjusting Deictic Words
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
Here is the answer to your question.
|
Thanks for the answer. (Either use the full noun or change the wording so that It is in an unstressed position) As with *Buy me it → Buy it for me we tend not to use it in a stressed position. (The verb thank is a bit unusual because the "receiver of the action" you is the direct object and the "thing received" follows in a prepositional phrase.) See Buy v. Thank and Indirect Objects.
|
This recipe sounds delicious. Will you please make me it.
|
Will you please make it for me.
|
*There are four seats. I am saving my family them.
|
I am saving them for my family. |
I bought my friend it.
|
I bought my friend a sandwich. (Use the full noun instead of the pronoun.)
|
That who gets there first will win. (That only refers to inanimate things.)
|
The person who gets there first will win.
|
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
inanimate (adj.) – things items (non-living); animate (adj.) – living, people
Resources
Swan, Michael. "This / that and It: things that have just been mentioned." Practical English Usage. 4th ed. 2009: Oxford University Press. Print. (590)
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. "Demonstratives." The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. (1504)
Practice
Major Blackout
Use It or This /That to refer back to something.
- Select the word from each list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.