Referring forward

9.41 There are various ways of referring forward to things that are about to be mentioned. These ways often involve the nouns listed in paragraphs 9.18 to 9.23 which are more commonly used when you are referring back to something.

'this' and 'these' 9.42 The use of 'this' to refer back to something was explained in paragraphs 9.7 to 9.10. You can also use 'this' or 'these' to refer forward to what you are about to say. They can be both pronouns and determiners. Note that 'these' can only be a pronoun when it is the subject.

Well, you might not believe this but I don't drink very much.

Perhaps I shouldn't confess this, but I did on one occasion break the law.

This chapter will follow the same pattern as the previous one.

These were the facts: on a warm February afternoon, Gregory Clark and a friend were cruising down Washington Boulevard in a Mustang.

On the blackboard these words were written: Reading. Writing. Arithmetic.

9.43 When 'this' and these' are used as determiners to refer forward to something, they are most commonly used with nouns which refer to a piece of writing (see paragraph 9.23). Sometimes they are used with nouns which refer to what is said (see paragraph 9.19) and with nouns which refer to ideas (see paragraph 9.20). They occasionally occur with nouns which refer to actions or events (see paragraph 9.21).

'following' 9.44 You can also refer to what you are about to mention using the adjective 'following' attributively. When 'following' is used like this, it is used with nouns which refer to texts, ideas, and pieces of writing (see paragraphs 9.19, 9.20, and 9.23.). Very occasionally, it is used with nouns which refer to actions and events (see paragraph 9.21).

After a while he received the following letter: 'Dear Sir, The Undersecretary of State regrets that he is unable to reconsider your case.'

The following account is based on notes and jottings from that period.

I draw the following conclusions: that natural childbirth and rooming-in should be available for all who want them.

You can also used the 'following' without a noon group after it.

...a box containing the following: a packet of tissues, two small sponger, two old handkerchiefs, and a clothes brush.

'next' 9.45 The adjective 'next' can be used to refer forward with nouns which refer to pieces of writing.

In the next chapter, we will examine this theory in detail.

'below' 9.46 You can also use 'below' to refer forward to something you are about to mention. You use 'below' like this after nouns which refer to texts and pieces of writing (see paragraphs 9.19 and 9.23).

...the coming together of the Japanese and Chinese economic miracles (see the Ex-secretary's Report below).

The overlap can be seen in the table below.

'Below' can occasionally be used to refer forward with nouns which refer to actions and things. When it is used with them, it is used in past participle clauses.

The report given below appeared in the Daily Mail on 8 August 1985.

9.47 'Such' can be as a predeterminer to refer to a kind of thing that is specified immediately afterwards in a phrase or clause beginning with 'as'.

I thought he had invited you for just such a purpose as this.

'Such' is also sometimes used to qualify a noun, followed by a specifying phrase or clause beginning with 'as'.

...a general prolonged rise in prices such as occurred in the late 1960s.

Then try redistributing the items under headings such as I've suggested.

9.48 There are also other ways of referring forward to things which also involve focusing on the thing referred to. These involve cleft clauses, which are explained in paragraphs 10.28 to 10.30 and sentences beginning with 'there', which are explained in paragraphs 10.46 to 10.55.