In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Hi!
A: How does the doctor help you? B: He makes you feel better. A: How does he make you feel better? B: Oh, in all sorts of ways. By putting bandages on, or by giving you medication. A: What’s medication? B: Well, painkillers, for example. While the doctor was putting the bandages on, he also gave me
some painkillers. A: Painkillers! B: Yes, pain is when it hurts. Ouch! When it’s painful. ←
pain is when it hurts. … When it’s painful.
1- What does “it” refer to in these two sentences?
2- What does “hurt” mean here?
Does it mean “ache”?
A: Oh, and killers? B: To kill, well, you see that fly? A: Yes. B: Now the fly is dead. I killed it. A: It is dead. You killed it. Poor little fly. B: Never mind the fly. Do you understand the word kill now? A: Oh, yes, I understand. That is when the doctor gives you one of these things and you use it to kill pain.
Yes, it is a phrase clarifying or elaborating on what has just been mentioned, namely the doctor gives you a painkiller to soften the pain. When the painkiller wears off, you may still feel a little pain, but you have to bite through it. By administering an analgesic people usually go through the worst of the physical pain without feeling it.
I bet you thought this was an easy question.
Well, I have a different answer.
“It hurts.”
“It’s raining.”
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” - Mr. Rogers
Here, rather than “it” referring to a specific thing, I think the second definition of ”it” applies:
“ used as subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a condition or action without reference to an agent.” - Merriam-Webster
So, in these examples, “it” refers to the general condition or situation.
“It hurts.” - I have a pain.
“It’s raining.” - Rain is falling.
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” - “What a wonderful day.”
These are just describing a condition.
Of course, if you put “it” into a specific context, the normal definition of “it” would apply.
“I cut my finger. It[my finger] hurts.”
I agree, because as you say, the wound or the process of putting bandages on is also referring to someone’s pain.
NN, you may not like me, but I like you and I don’t know why we should be each other’s opposites. May peace be with you and if you want to say something to me in private, you know what to do. Send me a private message, I really don’t mind.
I have to admit it’s a very tricky phrase. So, I think both our explanations are acceptable.
What you’re saying is that ‘it’ is used as an ‘it-dummy’ functioning as the subject of the sentence.
That makes sense to me.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 
