What does THAT refer to?

H

hossein31

Senior Member
London
Persian
What does "that" or "that picture" refer to in these sentences? To which Does it refer to: "what is deeply important to us" or "How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us"? What does "picture" mean in this context?

How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most.
 
    • It seems to me that it refers to "when we really know what is deeply important to us".
    Other suggestions??
     
    hossein31 said:
    What does "that" or "that picture" refer to in these sentences? To which Does it refer to: "what is deeply important to us" or "How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us"? What does "picture" mean in this context?

    How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most.
    Click to expand...

    I think the meaning is clear: we know what is most important to us and manage our lives so that we do what matters most.

    The syntax of your sentence is wild. I think that picture must be the picture we have in our minds of what is deeply important to us. He hasn't referred to a picture, so use of the expression that picture is dangerously ambiguous, as you must have found.
     
    Thomas Tompion said:
    I think the meaning is clear: we know what is most important to us and manage our lives so that we do what matters most.

    The syntax of your sentence is wild. I think that picture must be the picture we have in our minds of what is deeply important to us. He hasn't referred to a picture, so use of the expression that picture is dangerously ambiguous, as you must have found.
    Click to expand...
    yOUR REPLY IS VERY HELPFUL.THANK YOU.

    I want other friends to tell me their ideas.
     
    Thomas Tompion said:
    I think the meaning is clear: we know what is most important to us and manage our lives so that we do what matters most.

    The syntax of your sentence is wild. I think that picture must be the picture we have in our minds of what is deeply important to us. He hasn't referred to a picture, so use of the expression that picture is dangerously ambiguous, as you must have found.
    Click to expand...

    Since you wanted a second opinion, the original sentence is ugly too. [lame joke alluding to joke with doctors giving second opinions]

    I agree completely with Thomas Tompion. Answering you original question about "that" it refers to "what is deeply important to us".
     
    Thomas Tompion said:
    Hi Edval,

    Would you regard What a beautiful day it is! as a sentence. Aren't exclamations sentences?
    Click to expand...

    I guess I've just never seen an exclamation tied to another sentence in a work and it looked weird to me.

    For example, it seems weird to me to write "What a beautiful day it is, and the pool is ready"
     
    edval89 said:
    I guess I've just never seen an exclamation tied to another sentence in a work and it looked weird to me.

    For example, it seems weird to me to write "What a beautiful day it is, and the pool is ready"
    Click to expand...
    I can see what you mean, but I think most people would call your example a sentence. It's not like and the pool is. One senses the meaning is complete.
     
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