間違いやすい"it"、"that"の用法

・"that"は状況全体を指すのに使われるが、"it"は前に出てきた名詞を指すのに使われる。
・文頭の"that"は、話者と聞き手の両者が知っている状況を指すときに使われる。

［正］We had a party last Sunday. It was great.
［誤］We had a party last Sunday. That was great.

A: We had a party last Sunday.
［誤］B: That's nice. Did you enjoy that?

A: We had a party last Sunday.
［正］B: That's nice. Did you enjoy it?

A: I didn't go to the party. Did you?
［正］B: Yeah. It was great."

A: I didn't go to the party. Did you?
［誤］B: Yeah. That was great."

A: I bought a new watch.
［正］B: That's nice. Can I see it?

A: I bought a new watch.
［誤］B: It's nice. Can I see it?

・"this"は現在起こっているか、未来に起こる状況を示すのに使われるが、"that"は過去に起こった状況を示すのに使われる。

A: Are you enjoying the party.
［正］B: Yes, this is great.

A: Are you enjoying the party.
［誤］B: Yes, that is great.

A: Are you enjoying the party.
［正］B: Yes, it is great.

間違いやすい"it"、"that"の用法の関連項目

• ⇒ 人称代名詞
• ⇒ itの働き
• ⇒ 指示代名詞
• ⇒ 代名詞のone
• ⇒ something, somebody, someone
• ⇒ 色々な代名詞
• ⇒ other／the other／others／the others
• ⇒ many, most