[Grammar] It/its

[Maybo]

Christianity came to the Celts and brought with it many of its holidays.

Does "it" and "its" both refer to Celts?

Source: Celebrate Halloween with Paper Crafts

 

[Maybo]

No. They refer to 'Christianity'.

Why does "it" refer to 'Christianity' ? For example, "A bring with B" , B would not refer to A

 

[GoesStation]

Christianity came to the Celts and brought with it many of its holidays.

Why does "it" refer to 'Christianity' ? For example, "A bring with B" , B would not refer to A

"A bring with B" is not a sentence so we can't tell what it means.

The first clue that "it" and "its" can't refer to the Celts is that Celts is plural and the pronouns are singular.

 

[Maybo]

"A bring with B" is not a sentence so we can't tell what it means.

The first clue that "it" and "its" can't refer to the Celts is that Celts is plural and the pronouns are singular.

I don't understand the structure of this sentence. If "it" refer to " Christianity" , that means Christianity brought with Christianity many Christianity's holiday ?
Didn't Christianity bring holiday to the Celts?

 

[SoothingDave]

It confuses you that a religion brings its own holidays along when it converts another tribe?

 

[Maybo]

I think I finally understand the structure. I misunderstood " bring with" :lol:

 

[Rover_KE]

If "it" refer to " Christianity", that means Christianity brought with Christianity many Christianity's holiday ?

That's exactly right. It's the reason we use pronouns - to avoid the inelegant repetition.

Compare the following:

'The cat came in, carrying in the cat's mouth a mouse the cat had caught.'

'The cat came in, carrying in its mouth a mouse it had caught.'

 

[Maybo]

When Piscean joined UE, Piscean brought with Piscean the immense knowledge and experience that Piscean had gained during Piscean's long career in teaching. Piscean also brought such qualities as Piscean's admirable modesty and readiness to to hide Piscean's light under a bushel.

Piscean thinks that Piscean wrote a fine sentences (above), but Piscean concedes that people less gifted than Piscean might prefer to use a pronoun or two in place of some of the the proper nouns that Piscean used.

When Piscean joined UE, Piscean brought with Piscean the immense knowledge and experience that Piscean had gained during Piscean's long career in teaching.

What's the difference if I say "Piscean brought the immense knowledge and experience that Piscean had gained during Piscean's long career in teaching"

"Piscean brought with Piscean the immense knowledge and experience " Is " brought with" in this sentence mean "along with"? Not Piscean brought "the immense knowledge and experience" to Piscean himself ?

 

[Maybo]

1.Christianity came to the Celts and brought with it many of its holidays.

2. Christianity came to the Celts and brought many of its holidays with it.

Is my second sentence correct?

 

[Rover_KE]

It's OK.