I couldn’t go to Jane’s party. It was the day I was babysitting for Derek and Linda.

I couldn’t go to Jane’s party. It was the day I was babysitting for Derek and Linda. (© Advanced Grammar in Use, Martin Hewings)

From my grammar: "...the day suggests that it was a particular day that the listener knows about."
What day does the listener know about: when Jane's party was or when they were babysitting?

Er... it's the same day. The day Jane held a party and the day the author was babysitting.

I understand it )) I said incorrectly.
I meant what does the listener know about that day: that there was Jane's party or that the author was babysitting?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldboy

I understand it )) I said it incorrectly.
I meant what does the listener knows about that day: that there was a party at Jane's party or that the author was babysitting?

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The person who is listening... they know the date of Jane's party but not that the speaker had to babysit on that same day. Once the speaker tells them that it is the same date, then the listener knows that both events happened on the same day.

Thanks!