July 7, 2025
A Question I Have Today
I came across a question while reading an email this morning. I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers.
Thanks in advance.
The question is from this sentence: 'Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.'
Why does this sentence use 'it', not 'them'?
I mean, there are three of them referred to, right？
今早我在阅读一封电子邮件时，遇到了一个疑问。一个疑问一直在我的脑子里，留到现在才向你们——我的在线英语老师们——提问。
谢了先。
这个疑问出自下面这句话： “Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.”
为什么这个句子使用的是“it”而不是“them”呢？
我的意思是，这里有三个指代对象，对吧？
Correction Settings
A Question I Have Today
I came across a question while reading an email this morning.
I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers.
Thanks in advance.
The question is from this sentence: '“Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.'”
The question is from this sentence: “Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.”
Why does this sentence use 'it', not 'them'?
I mean, there are three of them referred to, right？
July 9, 2025
Thank you!
Have a nice day!
July 9, 2025
You're welcome. Have a nice day.
A Question I Have Today
I came across a question while reading an email this morning.
I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers.
Thanks in advance.
The question is from this sentence: 'Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.'
Why does this sentence use 'it', not 'them'?
I mean, there are three of them referred to, right？
Feedback
Grammatically, yes, you would use "them" but native speakers slip too. A lot of people like to say "it" because they think of "complaining, blaming, pointing fingers" as collectively "bad behaviour" which isn't exactly countable.
July 8, 2025
Long time no see~ Thank you so much!
Have a nice day!
A Question I Have Today
I came across a question while reading an email this morning.
I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers. I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers.
or: "I've been keeping this question in mind until now so I could ask it to you (or "bring it up with you"), my online English teachers."
Thanks in advance.
The question is from this sentence: 'Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.'
Why does this sentence use 'it', not 'them'?
I mean, there are three of them being referred to, right？?
I mean, there are three of them being referred to, right?
Feedback
You're absolutely correct! The sentence would be more grammatically correct if it said: "'Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of *these* will get you anywhere worth going.'. But, using "it" sounds more natural even though it's wrong. It's an example of wrong grammar being used instead of the correct grammar, because it sounds better when spoken.
July 7, 2025
Thank you so much!
Have a nice day!
Feedback
Both are equally acceptable in my view. This might be a little abstract, but which one you use depends on the way you group up the phrases.
When "it" is used, the entire phrase "complaining, blaming, pointing fingers" is treated as a single group of actions, and since there is only one group, "it" is used. Conversely, when "them" is used, you're making the phrases "complaining", "blaming", and "pointing fingers" each their own separate group. In this case, we have three groups, so "them" is used.
July 7, 2025
Got it!
Thanks a lot!
Have a nice day!
A Question I Have Today
I came across a question while reading an email this morning.
I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers.
Thanks in advance.
The question is from this sentence: 'Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.'
Why does this sentence use 'it', not 'them'?
I mean, there are three of them referred to, right？
Feedback
'Them' or 'those' sounds more natural to me than 'it' and I would choose them even if I was speaking casually and not really thinking.
July 7, 2025
Thanks a lot!
Have a nice day!
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I mean, there are three of them referred to, right？ This sentence has been marked as perfect!
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I came across a question while reading an email this morning. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers. This sentence has been marked as perfect! I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers. I'm holding onto this question until now to ask you, my online English teachers. or: "I've been keeping this question in mind until now so I could ask it to you (or "bring it up with you"), my online English teachers." This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Thanks in advance. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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The question is from this sentence: 'Complaining, blaming, pointing fingers—none of it will get you anywhere worth going.' This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect!
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