Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[tisogai]

What should be in the blank?

Douglas was not a dog ( ) habit it was to make acquaintance rashly.

Thanks!

[bud]

whose

[tisogai]

Hi bud, thanks for your reply.

If it is "whose", shouldn't it be;

Douglas was not a dog whose habit was to make acquaintance rashly, not "whose habit it was to..."??

Is this "it" necessary??

Thanks.

[bud]

Hmm... I don't see anything wrong with dropping the "it," but I'm not an expert on grammar, either. Including "it" is definitely more usual, though.

As to your original question, I don't see what else would work besides "whose." And if there is some other word that works, we will probably still have the issue with the "it."

Hope that helps!

[tisogai]

Hmmm... then, what does this "it" refer to??

Thanks.

[Lorikeet]

Think of these sentences:

It was his habit to have a cup of tea before bed every night.
It was his habit to eat a breakfast of eggs every morning.
It was the dog's habit to make acquaintances rashly.

Douglas was not a dog whose habit it was to make acquaintances rashly.

[bud]

Yes... also the same "it" as in, "It was raining." Doesn't that have a name, Lorikeet? Is it called a placeholder or something like that?