Distinguishing It & This

It vs This

The distinction between “it” and “this” can be somewhat confusing as they are both utilized in sentences as indefinite pronouns. “It” and “this” are two separate words with different meanings. The term “it” is a third person singular pronoun, while “this” is a demonstrative pronoun. This is the primary difference between the two terms. Moreover, “it” is used to emphasize an idea and as an empty subject in a sentence. “This” is used as a determiner and as a word to introduce or identify people.

What does It mean?

“It” is a third person singular pronoun used to refer to animals or inanimate objects. It is primarily used as a third person singular form, similar to other third person pronouns like “he” and “she”. You can only use “it” as a third person pronoun when referring to things or animals. For example:

– Look at this ring. It shines very well.
– See that lion? It roars loudly.

“It” is also used to begin sentences that emphasize a subject or an idea, or in assertive sentences. Additionally, “it” can be used as an empty subject when discussing the current situation, weather, time, temperature, and distances.

What does This mean?

On the other hand, the demonstrative pronoun “this” is used to refer to something or someone, as in the sentence “This is the book I mentioned in my lecture”. It is sometimes used at the end of a sentence, such as “I know this”. “This” also functions as a determiner for both people and things, and is used when introducing or identifying people.

Key Takeaways

• “It” is a third person singular pronoun used for animals or inanimate objects, while “this” is a demonstrative pronoun used to introduce an object.
• “It” is used as an empty subject when discussing the current situation, weather, time, temperature, and distances, whereas “this” can stress a point better than “it” and can be used with both people and things.
• “This” is also used to introduce or identify people, which cannot be done using the word “it”.