z7655431
Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2016
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
It seems that THIS or THAT is rarely used before a relative clause.
For example:
"The person who lives in this house has not been seen for days." --> If it goes with "THAT person who...", it seems a little unnatural, right?
Especially in this sentence:
"This is the cat which was found in the park yesterday."
If I change it into:
"This is THAT cat which was found in the park yesterday." --> that would be much odder, right?
However, in my language (Mandarine), this or that--even when they're put close--is commonly used and sounds natural.
Why is this or that in the cases above so unnatural in English? Do you think so? Is there a theory behind it?
For example:
"The person who lives in this house has not been seen for days." --> If it goes with "THAT person who...", it seems a little unnatural, right?
Especially in this sentence:
"This is the cat which was found in the park yesterday."
If I change it into:
"This is THAT cat which was found in the park yesterday." --> that would be much odder, right?
However, in my language (Mandarine), this or that--even when they're put close--is commonly used and sounds natural.
Why is this or that in the cases above so unnatural in English? Do you think so? Is there a theory behind it?