Why? It or That

[Anonymous]

Since I read Navi Tasan's thread, IT, I've gotten a question. Could you tell me why "it" should come and “that” should come in the following sentences? Is there any rule?

John was wounded in spite of my efforts to prevent it.
John decided to go out but I decided to prevent that.

 

[RonBee]

Since I read Navi Tasan's thread, IT, I've gotten a question. Could you tell me why "it" should come and “that” should come in the following sentences? Is there any rule?

John was wounded in spite of my efforts to prevent it.
John decided to go out but I decided to prevent that.

In my opinion, it and that are interchangeable in your example sentences. I can't think of any rule, but perhaps somebody else will comment.

8)

 

[Tdol]

Because 'prevent' is a transitive verb and would be incomplete without 'it' or 'that'. 8)

 

[RonBee]

I thought he was asking how to choose between it and that.

8)

 

[Tdol]

I'll have to think about that. :shock:

 

[RonBee]

I could be wrong. It wasn't entirely clear.

8)