that/it

[Winwin2011]

Wife: Haven't you put those shelves up yet?
Husband. No, I'll do it at the weekend.

Can we use "that' instead of "it" ? i.e No, I'll do that at the weekend.

Woman: It's great to be on the road. This car is easy to drive, isn't it?
Man: It's important to look in the mirror sometimes. Don't forget to do that?

Can we use "it' instead of "that" ? i.e Don't forget to do it?

I wonder whether if "it' and "that' are interchangeable in the above sentences?

Thanks for your help!

[hooshdar3]

(Not a teacher)

That, this, it can all ref back to what has been just mentioned.

[5jj]

(Not a teacher)'That', 'this', and 'it' can all refer back to what has been just mentioned.

They can indeed, but in slightly different ways; that was the point of Winwin's question.

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language, but please make sure that you use conventional punctuation, and that you write words in full ('refer' rather than 'ref'. Thank you.

Wife: Haven't you put those shelves up yet?
Husband. No, I'll do it at the weekend.
Can we use "that' instead of "it" ? i.e No, I'll do that at the weekend

Both are possible. 'That' is rather more emphatic than 'it'. This also applies to your other sentence.

[hooshdar3]

Why wouldn't he use it in his secomd example?

[5jj]

Why wouldn't he use it in his secomd example?

Presumably he chose 'that' over 'it' because he wanted to make it slightly more emphatic.

[hooshdar3]

Presumably he chose 'that' over 'it' because he wanted to make it slightly more emphatic.

You mentioned just 'that' and 'this', so I took that you meant 'it' is impossible.

[5jj]

You mentioned just 'that' and 'this', so I took that you meant 'it' is impossible.

I have not mentioned 'this' once in this thread. I said, of 'that' and 'it', "both are possible". As the useful points have been made, I am closing this thread