What is the reference of “it” here?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP












6














I've come across with the sentence below?




Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get
easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge.




I don't know what the reference of "it" is here. The tasks? the process? or anything else?
So could you please tell me what the reference of "it" is here?



The full text is:




Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. [...]
The less energy you spend on trivial choices, the more you can spend
it on what really matters. However, when you want to maximize your
potential and achieve elite levels of performance, you need a more
nuanced approach. You can’t repeat the same things blindly and expect
to become exceptional. Habits are necessary, but not sufficient for
mastery. What you need is a combination of automatic habits and
deliberate practice. Habits + Deliberate Practice = Mastery To become
great, certain skills do need to become automatic. Basketball players
need to be able to dribble without thinking before they can move on to
mastering layups with their nondominant hand. [...] But after one
habit has been mastered, you have to return to the effortful part of
the work and begin building the next habit. Mastery is the process of
narrowing your focus to a tiny element of success, repeating it until
you have internalized the skill, and then using this new habit as the
foundation to advance to the next frontier of your development. Old
tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier
overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge
. Each habit unlocks the next level of performance. It’s an
endless cycle.




Atomic habits by James Clear










share|improve this question





















  • There is no subject or object it can refer to. So, I think, possible duplicate: english.stackexchange.com/questions/5758/….
    – rexkogitans
    Dec 19 at 13:05







  • 1




    It should "antecedent" or "referent" rather than "reference".
    – Acccumulation
    Dec 19 at 19:02















6














I've come across with the sentence below?




Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get
easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge.




I don't know what the reference of "it" is here. The tasks? the process? or anything else?
So could you please tell me what the reference of "it" is here?



The full text is:




Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. [...]
The less energy you spend on trivial choices, the more you can spend
it on what really matters. However, when you want to maximize your
potential and achieve elite levels of performance, you need a more
nuanced approach. You can’t repeat the same things blindly and expect
to become exceptional. Habits are necessary, but not sufficient for
mastery. What you need is a combination of automatic habits and
deliberate practice. Habits + Deliberate Practice = Mastery To become
great, certain skills do need to become automatic. Basketball players
need to be able to dribble without thinking before they can move on to
mastering layups with their nondominant hand. [...] But after one
habit has been mastered, you have to return to the effortful part of
the work and begin building the next habit. Mastery is the process of
narrowing your focus to a tiny element of success, repeating it until
you have internalized the skill, and then using this new habit as the
foundation to advance to the next frontier of your development. Old
tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier
overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge
. Each habit unlocks the next level of performance. It’s an
endless cycle.




Atomic habits by James Clear










share|improve this question





















  • There is no subject or object it can refer to. So, I think, possible duplicate: english.stackexchange.com/questions/5758/….
    – rexkogitans
    Dec 19 at 13:05







  • 1




    It should "antecedent" or "referent" rather than "reference".
    – Acccumulation
    Dec 19 at 19:02













6












6








6







I've come across with the sentence below?




Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get
easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge.




I don't know what the reference of "it" is here. The tasks? the process? or anything else?
So could you please tell me what the reference of "it" is here?



The full text is:




Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. [...]
The less energy you spend on trivial choices, the more you can spend
it on what really matters. However, when you want to maximize your
potential and achieve elite levels of performance, you need a more
nuanced approach. You can’t repeat the same things blindly and expect
to become exceptional. Habits are necessary, but not sufficient for
mastery. What you need is a combination of automatic habits and
deliberate practice. Habits + Deliberate Practice = Mastery To become
great, certain skills do need to become automatic. Basketball players
need to be able to dribble without thinking before they can move on to
mastering layups with their nondominant hand. [...] But after one
habit has been mastered, you have to return to the effortful part of
the work and begin building the next habit. Mastery is the process of
narrowing your focus to a tiny element of success, repeating it until
you have internalized the skill, and then using this new habit as the
foundation to advance to the next frontier of your development. Old
tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier
overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge
. Each habit unlocks the next level of performance. It’s an
endless cycle.




Atomic habits by James Clear










share|improve this question













I've come across with the sentence below?




Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get
easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge.




I don't know what the reference of "it" is here. The tasks? the process? or anything else?
So could you please tell me what the reference of "it" is here?



The full text is:




Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. [...]
The less energy you spend on trivial choices, the more you can spend
it on what really matters. However, when you want to maximize your
potential and achieve elite levels of performance, you need a more
nuanced approach. You can’t repeat the same things blindly and expect
to become exceptional. Habits are necessary, but not sufficient for
mastery. What you need is a combination of automatic habits and
deliberate practice. Habits + Deliberate Practice = Mastery To become
great, certain skills do need to become automatic. Basketball players
need to be able to dribble without thinking before they can move on to
mastering layups with their nondominant hand. [...] But after one
habit has been mastered, you have to return to the effortful part of
the work and begin building the next habit. Mastery is the process of
narrowing your focus to a tiny element of success, repeating it until
you have internalized the skill, and then using this new habit as the
foundation to advance to the next frontier of your development. Old
tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier
overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next
challenge
. Each habit unlocks the next level of performance. It’s an
endless cycle.




Atomic habits by James Clear







grammar






share|improve this question













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share|improve this question




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asked Dec 19 at 8:02









Peace

2,20931739




2,20931739











  • There is no subject or object it can refer to. So, I think, possible duplicate: english.stackexchange.com/questions/5758/….
    – rexkogitans
    Dec 19 at 13:05







  • 1




    It should "antecedent" or "referent" rather than "reference".
    – Acccumulation
    Dec 19 at 19:02
















  • There is no subject or object it can refer to. So, I think, possible duplicate: english.stackexchange.com/questions/5758/….
    – rexkogitans
    Dec 19 at 13:05







  • 1




    It should "antecedent" or "referent" rather than "reference".
    – Acccumulation
    Dec 19 at 19:02















There is no subject or object it can refer to. So, I think, possible duplicate: english.stackexchange.com/questions/5758/….
– rexkogitans
Dec 19 at 13:05





There is no subject or object it can refer to. So, I think, possible duplicate: english.stackexchange.com/questions/5758/….
– rexkogitans
Dec 19 at 13:05





1




1




It should "antecedent" or "referent" rather than "reference".
– Acccumulation
Dec 19 at 19:02




It should "antecedent" or "referent" rather than "reference".
– Acccumulation
Dec 19 at 19:02










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















11














That is rather like a "weather it". The sentence requires a subject and "it" is used without a definite reference.



You could interpret "it" to mean "The process of developing mastery", ie the subject discussed in this paragraph.






share|improve this answer




























    7














    Let's say a teen is complaining to a parent about how difficult high-school is.




    The bus comes so early, at 6:15AM. I've got late lunch, so I'm starving by then. And Mr Jones is so boring.




    The parent might say "I've got news for you: it doesn't get any easier". There "it" alludes vaguely to "what is expected of you" or "life in general" or "things".



    It does not always refer to a specific noun. It can refer to the topic of conversation, the context. Using it in this way is conversational.






    share|improve this answer






















    • Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
      – user151841
      Dec 19 at 17:21










    • Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 19 at 18:24






    • 1




      @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
      – Tᴚoɯɐuo
      Dec 19 at 20:10



















    3














    This paragraph refers to becoming great at some type of activity (they give the example of Basketball, but it can be anything). To excel in some activity, you have to learn how to excel in many small tasks. But each time you master some aspect of that activity, becoming great at that activity doesn't get easier, since there is always the next aspects of the activity to put your efforts in mastering.



    The "it" in "it doesn’t get easier overall" refers to becoming great in the field.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      That sentence demonstrates the use of an impersonal verb in English. English is strict about always requiring a syntactic subject, even if semantically none is required; the pronoun it fills that need.






      share|improve this answer




























        -1














        Your "full text" starts with "Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. " What is this "minor dip", and what in what is the performance? Almost certainly, there is more to the text, so the answer to your question depends on that text. Let's say the text says:




        When you're learning a new skill, you continuously master more tasks. Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next challenge.




        Then "it" refers to "new skill".






        share|improve this answer




















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          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes








          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          11














          That is rather like a "weather it". The sentence requires a subject and "it" is used without a definite reference.



          You could interpret "it" to mean "The process of developing mastery", ie the subject discussed in this paragraph.






          share|improve this answer

























            11














            That is rather like a "weather it". The sentence requires a subject and "it" is used without a definite reference.



            You could interpret "it" to mean "The process of developing mastery", ie the subject discussed in this paragraph.






            share|improve this answer























              11












              11








              11






              That is rather like a "weather it". The sentence requires a subject and "it" is used without a definite reference.



              You could interpret "it" to mean "The process of developing mastery", ie the subject discussed in this paragraph.






              share|improve this answer












              That is rather like a "weather it". The sentence requires a subject and "it" is used without a definite reference.



              You could interpret "it" to mean "The process of developing mastery", ie the subject discussed in this paragraph.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Dec 19 at 8:06









              James K

              33.7k13786




              33.7k13786























                  7














                  Let's say a teen is complaining to a parent about how difficult high-school is.




                  The bus comes so early, at 6:15AM. I've got late lunch, so I'm starving by then. And Mr Jones is so boring.




                  The parent might say "I've got news for you: it doesn't get any easier". There "it" alludes vaguely to "what is expected of you" or "life in general" or "things".



                  It does not always refer to a specific noun. It can refer to the topic of conversation, the context. Using it in this way is conversational.






                  share|improve this answer






















                  • Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
                    – user151841
                    Dec 19 at 17:21










                  • Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
                    – Michael Harvey
                    Dec 19 at 18:24






                  • 1




                    @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
                    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
                    Dec 19 at 20:10
















                  7














                  Let's say a teen is complaining to a parent about how difficult high-school is.




                  The bus comes so early, at 6:15AM. I've got late lunch, so I'm starving by then. And Mr Jones is so boring.




                  The parent might say "I've got news for you: it doesn't get any easier". There "it" alludes vaguely to "what is expected of you" or "life in general" or "things".



                  It does not always refer to a specific noun. It can refer to the topic of conversation, the context. Using it in this way is conversational.






                  share|improve this answer






















                  • Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
                    – user151841
                    Dec 19 at 17:21










                  • Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
                    – Michael Harvey
                    Dec 19 at 18:24






                  • 1




                    @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
                    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
                    Dec 19 at 20:10














                  7












                  7








                  7






                  Let's say a teen is complaining to a parent about how difficult high-school is.




                  The bus comes so early, at 6:15AM. I've got late lunch, so I'm starving by then. And Mr Jones is so boring.




                  The parent might say "I've got news for you: it doesn't get any easier". There "it" alludes vaguely to "what is expected of you" or "life in general" or "things".



                  It does not always refer to a specific noun. It can refer to the topic of conversation, the context. Using it in this way is conversational.






                  share|improve this answer














                  Let's say a teen is complaining to a parent about how difficult high-school is.




                  The bus comes so early, at 6:15AM. I've got late lunch, so I'm starving by then. And Mr Jones is so boring.




                  The parent might say "I've got news for you: it doesn't get any easier". There "it" alludes vaguely to "what is expected of you" or "life in general" or "things".



                  It does not always refer to a specific noun. It can refer to the topic of conversation, the context. Using it in this way is conversational.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Dec 19 at 12:22

























                  answered Dec 19 at 12:12









                  Tᴚoɯɐuo

                  108k682174




                  108k682174











                  • Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
                    – user151841
                    Dec 19 at 17:21










                  • Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
                    – Michael Harvey
                    Dec 19 at 18:24






                  • 1




                    @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
                    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
                    Dec 19 at 20:10

















                  • Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
                    – user151841
                    Dec 19 at 17:21










                  • Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
                    – Michael Harvey
                    Dec 19 at 18:24






                  • 1




                    @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
                    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
                    Dec 19 at 20:10
















                  Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
                  – user151841
                  Dec 19 at 17:21




                  Likewise one could say, "Things don't get any easier"
                  – user151841
                  Dec 19 at 17:21












                  Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
                  – Michael Harvey
                  Dec 19 at 18:24




                  Not sure what you mean by "conversational". I might write "It is difficult to overstate the importance of the preceding point" in a formal document.
                  – Michael Harvey
                  Dec 19 at 18:24




                  1




                  1




                  @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
                  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
                  Dec 19 at 20:10





                  @Michael Harvey That is a somewhat different construction. The infinitive clause acts as the subject of that sentence (To overstate the importance of the preceding point is difficult) but it is extraposed out of that slot and so-called dummy "it" takes its place at the head of the sentence.
                  – Tᴚoɯɐuo
                  Dec 19 at 20:10












                  3














                  This paragraph refers to becoming great at some type of activity (they give the example of Basketball, but it can be anything). To excel in some activity, you have to learn how to excel in many small tasks. But each time you master some aspect of that activity, becoming great at that activity doesn't get easier, since there is always the next aspects of the activity to put your efforts in mastering.



                  The "it" in "it doesn’t get easier overall" refers to becoming great in the field.






                  share|improve this answer

























                    3














                    This paragraph refers to becoming great at some type of activity (they give the example of Basketball, but it can be anything). To excel in some activity, you have to learn how to excel in many small tasks. But each time you master some aspect of that activity, becoming great at that activity doesn't get easier, since there is always the next aspects of the activity to put your efforts in mastering.



                    The "it" in "it doesn’t get easier overall" refers to becoming great in the field.






                    share|improve this answer























                      3












                      3








                      3






                      This paragraph refers to becoming great at some type of activity (they give the example of Basketball, but it can be anything). To excel in some activity, you have to learn how to excel in many small tasks. But each time you master some aspect of that activity, becoming great at that activity doesn't get easier, since there is always the next aspects of the activity to put your efforts in mastering.



                      The "it" in "it doesn’t get easier overall" refers to becoming great in the field.






                      share|improve this answer












                      This paragraph refers to becoming great at some type of activity (they give the example of Basketball, but it can be anything). To excel in some activity, you have to learn how to excel in many small tasks. But each time you master some aspect of that activity, becoming great at that activity doesn't get easier, since there is always the next aspects of the activity to put your efforts in mastering.



                      The "it" in "it doesn’t get easier overall" refers to becoming great in the field.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 19 at 8:10









                      Eran

                      56528




                      56528





















                          0














                          That sentence demonstrates the use of an impersonal verb in English. English is strict about always requiring a syntactic subject, even if semantically none is required; the pronoun it fills that need.






                          share|improve this answer

























                            0














                            That sentence demonstrates the use of an impersonal verb in English. English is strict about always requiring a syntactic subject, even if semantically none is required; the pronoun it fills that need.






                            share|improve this answer























                              0












                              0








                              0






                              That sentence demonstrates the use of an impersonal verb in English. English is strict about always requiring a syntactic subject, even if semantically none is required; the pronoun it fills that need.






                              share|improve this answer












                              That sentence demonstrates the use of an impersonal verb in English. English is strict about always requiring a syntactic subject, even if semantically none is required; the pronoun it fills that need.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Dec 20 at 3:02









                              chepner

                              53528




                              53528





















                                  -1














                                  Your "full text" starts with "Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. " What is this "minor dip", and what in what is the performance? Almost certainly, there is more to the text, so the answer to your question depends on that text. Let's say the text says:




                                  When you're learning a new skill, you continuously master more tasks. Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next challenge.




                                  Then "it" refers to "new skill".






                                  share|improve this answer

























                                    -1














                                    Your "full text" starts with "Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. " What is this "minor dip", and what in what is the performance? Almost certainly, there is more to the text, so the answer to your question depends on that text. Let's say the text says:




                                    When you're learning a new skill, you continuously master more tasks. Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next challenge.




                                    Then "it" refers to "new skill".






                                    share|improve this answer























                                      -1












                                      -1








                                      -1






                                      Your "full text" starts with "Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. " What is this "minor dip", and what in what is the performance? Almost certainly, there is more to the text, so the answer to your question depends on that text. Let's say the text says:




                                      When you're learning a new skill, you continuously master more tasks. Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next challenge.




                                      Then "it" refers to "new skill".






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      Your "full text" starts with "Usually, this minor dip in performance is no cause for worry. " What is this "minor dip", and what in what is the performance? Almost certainly, there is more to the text, so the answer to your question depends on that text. Let's say the text says:




                                      When you're learning a new skill, you continuously master more tasks. Old tasks become easier the second time around, but it doesn’t get easier overall because now you’re pouring your energy into the next challenge.




                                      Then "it" refers to "new skill".







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered Dec 19 at 18:59









                                      Acccumulation

                                      1,06616




                                      1,06616



























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