What is the Difference Between This and It in English Grammar?

The main difference between "this" and "it" in English grammar is that "it" is a third-person singular personal pronoun, while "this" is a demonstrative determiner and pronoun. Here are some key differences between the two:

1. Pronoun vs. Determiner: "It" is a pronoun and can replace a subject or object that has already been referred to in a sentence. In contrast, "this" is a determiner and can be used to refer to humans, animals, and things.
2. Identification and Introduction: "It" is used to identify a person, while "this" is used to introduce a person. For example, if you get a phone call from your brother and want to identify the caller to your friends, you would use "it." If you want to introduce your brother to someone, you would use "this".
3. Dummy Subject: "It" can be used as a dummy subject to talk about time or weather, while "this" cannot be a dummy subject.
4. 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" and "this" have distinct grammatical functions and cannot be used interchangeably. "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 can introduce a person.

Comparative Table: This vs It in English Grammar

The main difference between "this" and "it" in English grammar is that "it" is a third-person singular personal pronoun, while "this" is a demonstrative determiner and pronoun. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

In summary, "this" is used to refer to humans, animals, and things, and can be used as a determiner to introduce a person or object. On the other hand, "it" is used to refer to non-human and non-living things, and can be used as a dummy subject to talk about time or weather.