ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: "Impurities"

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:30:11 GMT

Hello Cool Breeze,

Very good explanation! Thank you very much.

Best wishes,

Saadi

Re: "Impurities"

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:25:14 GMT

Oh, I see! Thanks, Goodman.

Best wishes,

Saadi

Re: "Impurities"

CalifJim — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:55:33 GMT

Anonymous
"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this." In this sentence why do we use It's if the word "impurity" is in the plural?

It's a cleft sentence structure. See Re: "It's the little things that bring me the most joy."

Re: "Impurities"

Goodman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:46:39 GMT

Hi CB,
"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this." The original inquiry was why used "impurities" (in plurals) with "it is" ( as singular) which is different than
"It can't take a plural verb; in other words, you cannot say it are or it were." in structure. Yes, we can change the structure of the sentence to express the same thoughts. But referring
back to your 3 examples, this question struck me. Since these sentences are relative in nature, shouldn't they be:

It was John ^WHO broke a window yesterday.
It was a window that John broke yesterday.
It was yesterday ^WHEN John broke a window.

Just my thougths...

Re: "Impurities"

Cool Breeze — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:47:42 GMT

Anonymous
"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this." In this sentence why do we use It's if the word "impurity" is in the plural?

It can't take a plural verb; in other words, you cannot say it are or it were. It is and it was are possible. The plural impurities has nothing to do with it's but it requires the use of are later in the sentence. In sentences like the one above what comes after it is or it was is emphasized. You could also be less emphatic and say: The impurities in our air and water are doing this. More examples of similar sentences:

It was John that broke a window yesterday.
It was a window that John broke yesterday.
It was yesterday that John broke a window.

Without emphasizing anything: John broke a window yesterday.

Re: "Impurities"

Goodman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:01:46 GMT

Hi Saadi,

When we use “it is” in the context such as yours, it is nearly impossible to come up with an explanation which may fit all the usages.

It is cold and dark outside! – What is “it” ? one may ask. It – is an abstract pronoun which could be either plural or singular in this type of context, that’s how it appears to me anyway.

Re: "Impurities"

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:57:38 GMT

Hi Goodman,

Well, I understood that in fact there isn't an exact grammatic explanation why we use "It's" with plural nouns, isn't it? Is it the same as to ask for example, why the simple past and past perfect of the verb to cut is : cut - cut. Am I wrong?

So, when you say "It's the artificial ingredients in the foods.." We have to understand the meaning of "it's" as being in plural, in spite of writing it in the singular form, don't we?

Thanks again,

Saadi

Re: "Impurities"

Goodman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:35:59 GMT

Hi,
This is what Iknow.
“It’s” x and y that contaminate our environment- This is a common usage.

In this context, “It’s” refers to the cause(s)

It’s the artificial ingredients in the foods such as coloring and preservatives that make us sick.- The causes = coloring and preservatives.

"Impurities"

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:41:52 GMT

Sorry, if it seems a stupid question, but I'd really like to learn the grammar explanation for the following, please:

"It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing this." In this sentence why do we use It's if the word "impurity" is in the plural?

Thank you,

Saadi