Topic 1.3.2 Cleft Sentences for Adding Emphasis
CLEFT SENTENCES FOR ADDING EMPHASIS
Look at the following sentences.
What is the function of cleft sentences like these?
- It’s the Vienna convention which really worries me.
- What concerns me is the way this has been handled from the beginning.
- The reason I say this is because if we don’t act quickly, we will have problems with the client.
What is the function of cleft sentences like these?
This can be:
a. new information
b. the subject or object of a sentence or an adverbial phrase.
c. the action or the verb phrase in a sentence.
d. a noun or verb phrase
Match the following sentences with the grammar explanations (a-d) above.
What constructions are used to start the previous sentences, which specific word or words do they emphasize and what role do those words play?
e.g. sentence 3 starts with ‘it…’ and emphasizes the line manager, which is new information and is contrasted with ‘his colleagues’ which was already known.
GRAMMAR REFERENCE
We use cleft sentences to add emphasis or to make a contrast to previously presented information. We also use them to connect new information to information the listener is already familiar with. Cleft sentences have two clauses, each with its own verb.
Cleft sentences starting with It … emphasise new information in the It … clause. The It … clause is connected using that or who to the information which was previously known.
These sentences often follow questions or other statements.
- A: Did they criticise the mentoring programme?
- B: No, it was the lack of time to implement the ideas that was criticised, not the mentoring programme.
- C: His colleagues often need him to stay late.
- D: Yes, but it is his line manager who is asking him to stay late this time, not his colleagues.
Cleft sentences which begin with It … can also be used to emphasise the subject or object of a sentence as well as an adverbial phrase.
- It is the CEO who will make the final decision. (subject)
- It is the new factory that Bill is visiting this week. (object)
- It was last month that he travelled to the supplier in Mexico. (adverbial phrase)
Cleft sentences beginning with What … can be used to emphasise the action or the verb phrase in a sentence. The What … clause usually includes a form of do whereas the second clause uses an infinitive.
- What they did was (to) change the structure of the feedback loops.
- What he has done is (to) add a new element of training.
Cleft sentences can be used to emphasise noun or verb phrases with the thing / person, the only thing / person, the last thing / person, something / someone or all. These cleft sentences, with the exception of the last thing / person and all, can also use negative verbs.
- The thing that works best for us is the weekly meeting.
- The last thing that I did was to contact the supplier.
- All that the junior staff want is to learn.
In addition, other nouns can also be used which focus on the noun or verb phrase following the main verb. These can use positive or negative verbs.
- The innovation that didn’t work was the one that was most expensive.
- The idea that I like best is the one regarding overtime pay.
- The day that we wanted to have the meeting wasn’t Tuesday, but it was the only day everyone had time.
If that refers to the object of the verb, we can omit it.
- The only thing (that) he said was to send in our reports on time.
- Something (that) they remembered later was the contract with the union.
Note: If that refers to the subject of the verb, we cannot omit it.
- The person that was most difficult was his boss. ✓
- The person was most difficult was his boss. ✗
Practice Exercise 1
Practice Exercise 2
Practice Exercise 3
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
Practice Exercise 4
Choose the two correct options to complete each sentence.
Speaking
In pairs or small groups, discuss the sentences you have written.