Understanding References
AdvancedFor it/they, look back.
- For it / this / that, scan back to the nearest noun — usually the answer.
- They / them need plurals; he / she need the right gender, which kills wrong options fast.
- Meaning helps: 'treat it gently' can only be an object, never a person.
文體小知識：What "it/they" means.
§Text Passage
1The book on the table is mine, but you may borrow it if you like. It has a blue cover with a picture of an old Chinese bridge on it. I bought it last week at a second-hand book fair in Central. It is about Chinese history, and it tells the story of ordinary people rather than emperors. I finished it yesterday, and it was very interesting. My father gave me a bamboo bookmark, and I keep it inside the book. So far, it is the best birthday present I have ever bought for myself.
2The author is a famous professor who teaches at HKU. He spent ten years writing this book, interviewing more than a hundred families. The professor explains difficult ideas in simple language, which is why his lectures are always full of students. His other books are also good, and some of them are used as textbooks in local schools. This is the kind of writing that changes how you see history. That is why I want to lend it to you before anyone else asks. Whenever I open it, I feel as if I am listening to a wise old friend.
3Borrow it if you want, but please return it by Friday, because my brother wants it next. You can also download the audiobook, which is read by the professor himself. I once heard him speak at a book fair, and he told the audience that history belongs to everyone. We could discuss the book together after you finish, and I would love to hear your views. Just remember to treat it gently; it is already twenty years old. Books are like doors; opening one always leads to another.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
The book on the table is mine, but you may borrow it if you like.
桌上的那本書是我的，不過你喜歡的話可以借去看。
It has a blue cover with a picture of an old Chinese bridge on it.
它有個藍色封面，上面畫着一座古老的中國橋。
I bought it last week at a second-hand book fair in Central.
我上星期在中環一個二手書展買的。
It is about Chinese history, and it tells the story of ordinary people rather than emperors.
這本書講中國歷史，講的是平民百姓的故事，而不是皇帝。
I finished it yesterday, and it was very interesting.
我昨天看完，它真是很有趣。
My father gave me a bamboo bookmark, and I keep it inside the book.
爸爸送我一枚竹書籤，我就把它夾在這本書裡面。
So far, it is the best birthday present I have ever bought for myself.
到目前為止，它是我買過給自己最好的生日禮物。
The author is a famous professor who teaches at HKU.
作者是一位在港大教書的著名教授。
He spent ten years writing this book, interviewing more than a hundred families.
他用了十年寫這本書，訪問了超過一百個家庭。
The professor explains difficult ideas in simple language, which is why his lectures are always full of students.
教授用簡單的語言解釋深奧的概念，所以他的講座常常滿座。
His other books are also good, and some of them are used as textbooks in local schools.
他的其他書一樣好，當中有些還被本地學校用來做教科書。
This is the kind of writing that changes how you see history.
這種就是會改變你看歷史方式的寫作。
That is why I want to lend it to you before anyone else asks.
所以我想在其他人開口之前先借給你。
Whenever I open it, I feel as if I am listening to a wise old friend.
每次打開它，我都覺得好像正在聽一位睿智的老朋友談話。
Borrow it if you want, but please return it by Friday, because my brother wants it next.
想借就借，但請在星期五之前還，因為接着輪到我弟弟想看。
You can also download the audiobook, which is read by the professor himself.
你也可以下載有聲書，是教授親自朗讀的。
I once heard him speak at a book fair, and he told the audience that history belongs to everyone.
我在一個書展聽過他演講，他對觀眾說：歷史屬於每一個人。
We could discuss the book together after you finish, and I would love to hear your views.
你看完之後我們可以一起討論，我很想聽你的看法。
Just remember to treat it gently; it is already twenty years old.
記住要溫柔地對待它；它已經二十歲。
Books are like doors; opening one always leads to another.
書就好像一扇扇門——打開一本，就會通向下一本。
1Summary 重點摘要
For it/they, look back.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
What pronoun refers to.
it/they/this.
Word before pronoun.
Thing.
People/things.
Near.
Far.
Refers to things.
3Step by step Steps
- BeforeThe meaning of it / they / this lives earlier in the sentence: scan backwards for the noun it stands for (the antecedent). Example: paragraph three, “please return it by Friday” — the nearest topic is the book, so it = the book, not Friday.
- NearestIt usually points to the nearest noun: “my brother wants it next” — what the brother wants next is the book again; and “treat it gently; it is already twenty years old” — twenty years is the book's age, not the professor's.
- Pluralthey / them stand for plural nouns: paragraph two, “His other books are also good, and some of them are used as textbooks” — them = his other books. Use it for singular, and cross out names of people or places.
- CheckOnce you have a candidate, substitute it back and reread: “borrow it” → “borrow the book” works; “borrow Friday” does not. Confirm only when the meaning fits; if not, search further back.
- which / whowhich / who follow the noun just before them: “the audiobook, which is read by the professor himself” — which = the audiobook, so the professor records it himself, not the book; never attach it to any nearby word.
- Meaning helpsCommon sense filters candidates too: treat it gently can only describe an object; he points to a male — “The author is a famous professor... He spent ten years”, so He = the professor.
- Exam useReference questions are common in the DSE: every time you meet it / this / that / they, pause, look back for the noun and substitute. In multiple choice, filter options by number, gender and meaning.
5Worked example Example
Resolve the references in paragraph three: 'return it by Friday, because my brother wants it next', 'treat it gently; it is already twenty years old', and 'the audiobook, which is read by the professor himself'.
- Step 1: 'Return it by Friday' — scan back to the nearest singular topic: the book, so it = the book, not Friday.
- Step 2: 'My brother wants it next' — the nearest topic is again the book; substituting makes sense (the brother is queuing to read it).
- Step 3: 'Treat it gently; it is already twenty years old' — both its are the book: 'gently' suits an object, and twenty years fits the book's age, not a professor's.
- Step 4: 'The audiobook, which is read by the professor himself' — 'which' points to the nearest noun, audiobook: the professor records it himself.
- Step 5: Substitute every answer back into its sentence; a reference that reads smoothly is the right one.
- Answer: Paragraph three contains several references. 'Return it by Friday' points back to the book, because 'return' takes an object and the topic is the loan. 'My brother wants it next' also refers to the book — the brother is next in the queue. In 'treat it gently; it is already twenty years old', both pronouns mean the book: you treat objects gently, and twenty years suits the book's age rather than the professor's. Finally, in 'the audiobook, which is read by the professor himself', 'which' attaches to the nearest noun, the audiobook, meaning the professor narrates his own work. Substituting each answer back into its sentence confirms every one reads smoothly.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is reference?
Q2Find antecedent?
Q3What is it?
Q4What is they?
Q5this/that?
Q6Tip?
Q7What does "It" refer to?
Q8What colour is it?
Q9What is it about?
8Recap Recap
- For it / this / that, scan back to the nearest noun — usually the answer.
- They / them need plurals; he / she need the right gender, which kills wrong options fast.
- Meaning helps: 'treat it gently' can only be an object, never a person.
- Which / who attach to the noun just before: 'the audiobook, which...' = the audiobook.
- Substitute the candidate back into the sentence; smooth reading confirms it.