The spelling of the phrase "that it" can be challenging due to the different pronunciations of the "t" sound. When the word "that" is followed by a vowel sound, the "t" is pronounced as a flap or "d" sound. However, when "that" is followed by a consonant sound, the "t" is pronounced as a voiceless stop. The IPA phonetic transcription for "that it" would be /ðæt ɪt/ with a flap sound for the "t" in "that" and a voiceless stop for the "t" in "it."
"That it" is a phrase used as an expression to convey certainty or confirmation of a previous statement or situation. It refers to a specific thing or fact that has been mentioned or is already known or expected to be true. The phrase often serves to emphasize or reiterate a point, to stress the importance or validity of an assertion, or to validate a claim or belief.
The term "that" is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to something previously mentioned or understood. It is often used to introduce a subordinate clause or a direct statement. "It," in this context, is a pronoun that typically serves as a placeholder for a noun or an object that has been mentioned before or is easily understood from the context.
When combined, "that it" acts as a concise way to refer back to a specific thing or situation that has been discussed or is being referred to. It functions to clarify or reinforce the subject matter, indicating a recognition or acceptance of what has been presented. In conversation or written texts, the phrase "that it" often acts as a reminder or a summarization of an established point, allowing the speaker or writer to restate or emphasize key information for the listener or reader.
The phrase "that it" is not an individual word with its own etymology. Instead, it is a combination of the demonstrative pronoun "that" and the pronoun "it". Each of these words has separate etymologies.
1. That:
The word "that" originated from the Old English word "þæt" which meant "that" or "which". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*þat", and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root "*to-". The Old English word "þæt" evolved into Middle English "that" which eventually became the modern English term.
2. It:
The word "it" came from the Old English pronoun "hit". This pronoun was gender-neutral and referred to inanimate objects, animals, and sometimes people.