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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject: Grammar question |
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I have a question related to the following two sentences:
(1) The monster is too gross to touch it.
(2) The monster is too gross for us to touch it.
In (1) I feel that "it" has to be dropped for the sentence to be grammatically correct, but I feel "it" is required in sentence (2). If that is correct, can someone explain why? And if I'm wrong, please set me straight!
Thanks a lot and have a merry Christmas! |
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alistaircandlin
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Better to drop 'it' from both sentences.
In the first sentences it is just wrong. In the second sentence it is unecessary. |
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crisdean
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul Special City
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| alistaircandlin wrote: |
Better to drop 'it' from both sentences.
In the first sentences it is just wrong. In the second sentence it is unecessary. |
I agree.
In (2) "it" is superfluous. Now there's a word I don't generally have a reason to use. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:06 am Post subject: Re: Grammar question |
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| raewon wrote: |
I have a question related to the following two sentences:
(1) The monster is too gross to touch it.
(2) The monster is too gross for us to touch it.
In (1) I feel that "it" has to be dropped for the sentence to be grammatically correct, but I feel "it" is required in sentence (2). If that is correct, can someone explain why? And if I'm wrong, please set me straight!
Thanks a lot and have a merry Christmas! |
If the first sentence is using anaphoric reference with the monster being the antecedent of the pronoun 'it' (it=monster)....then it should be removed...redundant.
However, in that same first sentence...the pronoun 'it' may just be causing confusion...it is not necessarily wrong.
If the antecedent is exophoric...then 'it' could be 'a sweet young baby'
The monster is too gross to touch the sweet young baby.
We don't want the monster touching it.
The monster is too gross to touch it.
In the second sentence, as has already been posted, 'it', for some, is viewed as 'superfluous'.
For others, 'it' may be seen as more formal...some writers don't like relying on the use of ellipsis when the pronoun is easily kept and doesn't cause undo confusion.
Happy Holidays Reawon!  |
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