Pronoun antecedent Type Nouns phrases, clauses, Infinitives

[AZ679]

Generally pronouns refer to a noun.

Can pronouns, however, refer to a clause or an infinitive used as a noun?

I like to swim; John also likes it.

(Is this usage correct? We can think that 'it' refers to 'to swim' which is used as a noun (object) here.)


How about clauses?

I have heard that John has gone; Mary has also heard it.

[Everything OR Nothing]

I like to swim; John also likes it.
is wrong -------it cant refer to "swim"

If the sentence were like this : I like swimming ; John also likes it----is correct : here swimming is used as noun and it can refer to swimming.

I have heard that John has gone; Mary has also heard it.

---this sentence is wrong.In this kind of situation you can use SO.
I have heard that John has gone ,and Mary has also heard so.--correct

[RonPurewal]

"heard so" doesn't work either, but that sort of thing won't be tested on this exam.