Winwin2011
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2011
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Hong Kong
- Current Location
- Hong Kong
The usage of this and that are quoted from Pratical English usage, Machael Swan 589-590.
589 3. time
This/these can refer to situations and events which are going on or just about to start.
e.g Listen to this. You'll like it. (Not "Listen to that")
Watch this. This is a police message.
That/those can refere to situations and events which have just finished, or which are more distant in the past.
e.g That was nice. What was it? (Not "This was nice")
590 this/that and it:
things that have just been mentioned
1. referring back
This, that and it can all be refer back to things or situations that have just been talked or written about it. 'It' does not give any special emphasis.
So she decided to paint her house prink. It upset the neighbours a bit.
This and that are more emphatic; they 'shine a light', so to speak, on the things or situation, suggesting 'an interesting new fact has been mentioned'.
So she decided to paint her house prink. Thi/That really upset the neighbours, as you can imagine.
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Could anybody explain the difference between s589 and s590 to me, please?
Thanks for your help.
589 3. time
This/these can refer to situations and events which are going on or just about to start.
e.g Listen to this. You'll like it. (Not "Listen to that")
Watch this. This is a police message.
That/those can refere to situations and events which have just finished, or which are more distant in the past.
e.g That was nice. What was it? (Not "This was nice")
590 this/that and it:
things that have just been mentioned
1. referring back
This, that and it can all be refer back to things or situations that have just been talked or written about it. 'It' does not give any special emphasis.
So she decided to paint her house prink. It upset the neighbours a bit.
This and that are more emphatic; they 'shine a light', so to speak, on the things or situation, suggesting 'an interesting new fact has been mentioned'.
So she decided to paint her house prink. Thi/That really upset the neighbours, as you can imagine.
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Could anybody explain the difference between s589 and s590 to me, please?
Thanks for your help.
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