Noun: feel V.S. feeling

[blacknomi]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

1. He promised to pay his debt. It he did on the following day.
==> Only if we move the the pronoun to the object position, like this,

He did it on the following day.

The reason "It he did" doesn't work because "It", being a nominal, functions as subject or object, never as modification:

He promised to pay his dept, which he did on the following day.
He promised to pay his dept. That he did on the following day.
He promised to pay his dept. He did it on the following day.

Both 'which' and 'that' modify 'pay his dept'. The pronoun "it" cannot modify 'pay his dept'. It can only refer to it.

2. I tried to learn the poem by heart, but it was no easy task. ==> "It" works well because it's in the subject position. It refers to th noun phrase 'trying to learn the peom: ...but trying to learn the poem was no easy task.

3. I will pay you tomorrow. It will satisfy you.
==> "It" is in the subject position, but it doesn't work well in this context. We need a demonstrative pronoun to express "that thing (paying you), this way (will, tomorrow, in the future)".

4. It was raining hard, and it kept us indoors.
==> "it" works well in this context. It refers to "rain". The rain kept us in doors.

5. He has good intentions, but it is not enough.
==> "it" works well. It refer to the noun phrase 'having good intentions'. ...but having good intentions is not enough.

All the best,

Dear Cas,
Thank you very much. Here are my summuries,
1. use "this" to refer to something that is close to you in space or time.
2. use "that" to refer to something that is not close to you in space or time.
3. sometimes we can use "it" to refer to something or event we just uttered, for example, It was raining hard. This kept us indoors.

Are they correct?

:wink:

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

Here are my summuries,

1. use "this" to refer to something that is close to you in space or time.
2. use "that" to refer to something that is not close to you in space or time.
3. sometimes we can use "it" to refer to something or event we just uttered, for example, It was raining hard. This kept us indoors.

Are they correct?

1. and 2. look good, but as for 3., I'd say,

Use "it" to refer to a noun (e.g. It was raining hard. It (the rain) kept us indoors.).

All the best,

[blacknomi]

A: You look beautiful!
B: I'm glad to hear this/that/it.

I heared people said "that". The utterance of A is somewhat close to B in space and time.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

Wouldn't they?

Mary: Honey, John lied to his wife. Listen, don't you ever do THIS to me!
Honey: Yes, queen.


oh I forget to wish you a wonderful weekend.

Not I. I would say:

• Don't you ever do that to me.

Thanks.

:D

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

A: You look beautiful!
B: I'm glad to hear this/that/it.

I heared people said "that". The utterance of A is somewhat close to B in space and time.

The most natural response:

• I am glad to hear that.

The word that in that sentence refers, of course, to the comment made by the other person.

(Say: "I have heard people say that.")

:)

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

A: You look beautiful!
B: I'm glad to hear this/that/it.

I heared people said "that". The utterance of A is somewhat close to B in space and time.

I'm glad to hear those words from you. :D

[blacknomi]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

I'm glad to hear those words from you. :D

Smart answer! Good riddance!

[blacknomi]

Originally Posted by RonBee

The most natural response:

• I am glad to hear that.

The word that in that sentence refers, of course, to the comment made by the other person.

(Say: "I have heard people say that.")

:)

Thanks, Ron.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

Smart answer! Good riddance!

I'm glad to hear that.
==> the word 'that' means, 'those words from you'.
I'm glad to hear those words from you.

Sorry to hear you're happy to get rid of me (i.e. "Good riddance!").

[blacknomi]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

I'm glad to hear that.
==> the word 'that' means, 'those words from you'.
I'm glad to hear those words from you.


Sorry to hear you're happy to get rid of me (i.e. "Good riddance!").

Dear Cas,
I am TERRIBLY SORRY to use "good riddance" in a wrong way. It is the Casiopea I least want to get rid of.

<sending you a rose @>--- as my apology>