VOA · Ask a Teacher
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01Hello!
02This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Masa in Japan about the usage of the words it and that in English conversation.
03Dear teacher, I'd like to ask about the choice of pronouns, either it or that, in my English conversation.
04Sometimes I'm confused about choosing these words.
05Thank you, Masa.
06I'm happy to answer this question, Masa.
07We usually use the word it to describe a general state of our environment or a situation.
08And we often use the word that to answer something specific that someone said.
09Let's consider the word it first.
10To describe a state means to describe what the environment or situation is like.
11The word it gives us a quick way of doing this.
12And we typically contract the word it with the verb is and say it's.
13So, instead of saying, The weather is very cold in Siberia in the winter.
14We can simply say, It's very cold in Siberia in the winter.
15Similarly, we can say, It's noisy here.
16It's crowded right now on the train.
17We can also use the word it to describe what it is like to do something in general.
18Consider these examples.
19It's difficult to find a good hotel in that city.
20It's normal to feel nervous before giving a speech.
21Now, let's consider the word that.
22Instead of describing the state of an environment, each of the following examples shows a person responding to a specific statement.
23I'm surprised you disagree with her.
24No, no.
25That is not what I mean.
26I agree with what she said.
27Is that your explanation?
28That is the best answer I can give you.
29Did Diane say she was leaving her job?
30That is what I heard.
31So, in general, when you answer to someone in conversation, you can use the word that.
32However, there are times when we use the word it to answer something specific.
33For example, if someone asks you if you enjoy an activity, you can reply, Yes, it's great.
34I love it.
35There are many more uses of the word that.
36You can read and listen to a previous Ask a Teacher program, this and that.
37For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English?
38We'd like to hear from you.
39Send us an email at learningenglish at voanews.com And please include where you are from in your email, too.
40And that's Ask a Teacher.
41I'm Andrew Smith.
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