INGLS I, 1 Grammar: Clefts

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Vctor Barbosa Losada. 2013
Clefts
In a cleft sentence, information which could be given in one clause is divided into two parts, each with
its own verb. This is used to emphasize part of the sentence. There are two main types of cleft
sentences.
1. It cleft sentences
This kind of sentences are introduced by what we call dummy it, an it which has no significative
meaning in the sentence.
The general structure is:

IT + BE (+NOT AND/OR ADVERB) + EMPHASISED WORD/PHRASE + THAT (WHO) CLAUSE
We can emphasize different elements of the sentence.
Example sentence: Dave met Allan in the library on Monday.
a) Emphasis on the subject: It was Dave who Allan in the library on Monday.
b) Emphasis on the object: It was Allan that Dave met in the library on Monday.
c) Emphasis on the adverbial: It was on Monday that Dave met Allan in the library.
d) Emphasis on the prepositional phrase: It was in the library that Dave met Allan on Monday.

2. Wh cleft sentences
This kind of sentences are introduced by a wh word. The structure is as follows:
WH- clause + BE + EMPHASISED WORD/PHRASE
In this sentences WHAT means the thing(s) that. The Wh-clause must contain a verb. To highlight the
action we use a form of DO in the WH-clause. The highlighted phrase usually contains a bare infinitive or
TO +INF.
If the highlighted verb is in the continuous or perfect, the form of DO matches it.
a) Emphasis on the action: What Dave did was to meet Allan in the library on Monday.
3. Other cleft sentences
a) The thing that: The thing that I love most about him is his funny personality.
b) The only thing: The only thing I want you to do is your homework.
c) All: All we need is some biscuits.