What is the Difference Between It and This?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between "it" and "this" is that "it" is a third-person singular personal pronoun, while "this" is a demonstrative determiner and pronoun. Here are some key differences in their usage:
- Referring to non-human and non-living things: "It" is used with non-human and non-living things, while "this" can be used to refer to humans, animals, and things.
- Identification and Introduction: "It" is used to identify a person, while "this" is used to introduce a person. For example, when receiving a phone call from your brother, you would use "it" to identify the caller to your friends ("It's my brother calling"). When introducing your brother to someone, you would use "this" ("This is my brother, John").
- Dummy Subject: "It" can be used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, etc. For example, "It's 12:00" or "It's raining." "This" cannot be a dummy subject.
- Demonstrative: "This" demonstrates a noun, showing the nearness of an object to our eyes, while "it" replaces a noun already mentioned or known to the speaker.
In summary, "it" is used to refer to non-human and non-living things and can be used as a dummy subject, while "this" is used to refer to humans, animals, and things, and demonstrates a noun. Additionally, "it" is used for identification, while "this" is used for introduction.
Comparative Table: It vs This
The main difference between "it" and "this" is that "it" is a pronoun and "this" is a determiner and a pronoun. They have distinct uses and functions in a sentence due to their grammatical differences. Here is a table comparing their usage:
| Feature | It | This |
|---|---|---|
| Pronoun or Determiner | Pronoun | Determiner and Pronoun |
| Grammatical Category | Third-person singular personal pronoun | Demonstrative determiner and pronoun |
| Usage with Non-living Things | Mainly used with animals and non-living things | Can be used to refer to humans, animals, and things |
| Identification | Identifies a person or thing | Introduces a person or thing |
| Introduction | Cannot be used as a dummy subject | Can be used as a dummy subject (e.g., "It is raining") |
| Demonstrative | Does not demonstrate a noun | Demonstrates a noun, showing the nearness of an object to our eyes |
Examples:
- It is a nice day. (It refers to the weather, which has already been mentioned.)
- This is a nice day. (This introduces the idea of a nice day.)
- I saw a beautiful bird yesterday. It was amazing. (It refers to the bird, which has already been mentioned.)
- Look at that bird! This is amazing! (This introduces the bird and highlights its amazing nature.)
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