It / This
Referring back to something
Referring back with emphasis
| IT – REFERRING BACK | THIS – REFERRING WITH EMPHASIS |
|---|---|
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. |
We use this or that to refer to something with special emphasis – indicating an interesting new fact has been mentioned. |
REFERS TO A NOUN Apple is going to release a new operating system. It will merge the laptop OS with the iPad and iPhone OS. (It refers to the new operating system.) |
REFERS TO A NOUN 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. (This emphasizes the subject noun.) |
REFERS TO A SITUATION Another employee has lost an iPhone prototype. It set off an official search for the missing phone. (It refers to the situation in the sentence.) |
REFERS TO A SITUATION Another employee has lost an iPhone prototype. This set off an official search for the missing phone. (This emphasizes the situation.) |
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
Referring to a part of a clause
| REFERS TO THE FORMER SUBJECT | THIS – REFERRING TO LAST OR NEWEST SUBJECT |
|---|---|
We use it to refer to the main or the first mentioned subject of a discussion. The subject is usually a noun or noun phrase. |
We use this or that to refer to a new subject or the last thing mentioned. The reference could be a noun phrase, verb phrase, adjective phrase, adverb phrase, or prepositional phrase. |
REFERS TO THE FORMER (first) SUBJECT Applet wants to market the iCar in the United States first. It is the first tech company to do so. This is not a real situation! Applet wants to market the iCar in the United States first. It will be a limited release. (the car)
|
REFERS TO THE LATTER (last) SUBJECT Applet wants to market the iCar in the United States first. This will allow the product to be tested before introducing it to the International market. Also not a real situation. |
Applet plans a new venture in producing cars with its lithium-ion batteries. It will require a lot of capital. This is also not a real situation! |
Applet plans a new venture in producing cars with its patented technology. This has upset the auto industry. |
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
Referring backward or forward
| IT – REFERRING BACK | THIS – INTRODUCING AHEAD |
|---|---|
We use it to refer to an item that has already been mentioned |
We can use this or that to introduce or prepare the listener or reader for a new item, something we are about to mention. |
REFERS BACK TO THE SUBJECT Google will release Gaggle a social network for telling jokes. It will be released soon. |
INTRODUCES A SUBJECT This is the best idea ever! Google will start a social network for telling jokes called Gaggle. |
The network has a lot of support among its users. It will be available in over 30 languages. |
What do you think about this? Gaggle will be available in over 30 languages. |
This v. That – distancing
| THIS / THESE | THAT / THOSE |
|---|---|
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. This – singular; These – plural; determiner – This idea is great; noun – This is great idea. |
We use that to refer to something that is far — time, location, mentally. That – singular; Those – plural |
NEAR LOCATION I have the estimate in my hand. This is what I need. |
FAR LOCATON You have the estimate in your hand. That is what I need. Please give it to me. |
NEAR TIME This is the first time. |
FAR TIME That was the last time.
|
NEAR MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY I really like this woman. (favorable)
|
FAR MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY President Clinton — "I did not have sex with that woman." (unfavorable)
|
Pop-Q Deictics and Adjusting Deictic Words
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
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
Blackout
Use It or This/That to refer back to something.
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.