An essay not submitted in class on the due date will lose a letter grade for each class period it is late.
这句话中的 it 明显是做关系代词引导主系表结构的从句,否则无法解释这种语法现象。
这并不是it做关系代词——也不存在it做关系代词的情况。
这是省略关系词的定语从句,可以看作省略了“万金油”关系副词that,that≈by which。
类比一下:
I like the way (that / in which) you talk to me. (in which似乎不常用)
An essay not submitted in class on the due date will lose a letter grade for each class period (that / by which) it is late. (by which也不常用)
个人见解,仅供参考。
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