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Cleft Sentences - Grammar: Add Emphasis English Word Order
Cleft Sentences - Grammar: Add Emphasis English Word Order
There are several ways to add emphasis (focus) to parts of your sentences in English by
changing the word order. Cleft sentences are one way to add emphasis to what we want
to say.
A cleft sentence is a sentence in which some part is moved from its normal position
into a different place to give it more emphasis.
We could say:
Cleft sentences are used in spoken and written English, but they are more common in
written English.
IT cleft sentences
You can use other pronouns in place of "it" to make cleft sentences.
Examples:
– You met my teacher, Mr. Jones, didn't you?
The understood information (old information) is at the end: I met your teacher.
In informal situations, we sometimes leave out "that" in cleft sentences.
Examples:
It was Mrs. Smith that I met.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
It must have been his mother who taught him how to grow sunflowers.
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