When part of a sentence is moved from its normal position to the beginning of

the sentence, we call this fronting. The part of the sentence moved to the
front might be the object or some other complement, an adverbial or even the
main verb itself.

Fronting is used by writers (authors, journalists etc) for dramatic effect. It is

sometimes used in speech for emphasis, especially the shorter forms with
adjectives and clauses containing question words.

e.g. 1

The garage was on the right of the house.

On the right of the house was the garage.

e.g. 2
My mother had planted geraniums around the sides of the lawn.
Around the sides of the lawn my mother had planted geraniums.

Fronting Typical word order

Three turtle eggs were buried in the sand.

The students studied for seven hours.

My old school friend was standing before me.

I want to buy those books over there.

The biggest spider I had ever seen was before

my very eyes.

I like horror movies, but I dislike romance

movies.

My little sister hid behind the curtains.

You will see a golden ring in the box.

I watched that TV show you told me about last

night.

The main characters fall in love at the end of

 the story.

Cleft sentences
We use cleft sentences, especially in speaking, to connect what is already
understood to what is new to the listener. In a cleft sentence, a single message is
divided (cleft) into two clauses. This allows us to focus on the new information.

It-cleft sentences

It-clauses are the most common type of cleft clause. The information that comes
after it is emphasised for the listener. The clause which follows the it-clause
is connected using that and it contains information that is already understood.
We often omit that in informal situations when it is the object of the verb:
A: Sharon’s car got broken into yesterday, did it?

B: No. It was Nina’s car that got broken into!

Focus (new information): it was Nina’s car

Understood already (old information): a car got broken into

Wh-cleft sentences (What I need is a holiday)

Wh-cleft sentences are most often introduced by what, but we can also use why,
where, how, etc. The information in the wh-clause is typically old or
understood information, while the information in the following clause is new and
in focus:
A: I don’t know what to cook for them? I don’t know what they like.

B: What they like is smoked salmon.

Understood already (old information): we are talking about what they like to eat
Focus (new information): they like smoked salmon

I. Fill in each gap with a suitable word.

1.A: Didn't you arrive late yesterday?

B: No, __________________ was John who arrived so late.

2.A: You don't understand me.

B: No, __________________ I don't understand is why you do this to yourself.

3.A: Didn't you fly to Denver yesterday?

B: No, it __________________ on Monday __________________ I flew to Denver.

4.A: You hurt him!

B: __________________ I did is tell him the truth. I think he deserved it.

5.A: Didn't we meet at this bar?

B: No, the __________________ where we met for the first time was that karaoke bar
in Brooklyn. Don't you remember?

6.A: I saw you at the station yesterday.

B: No, the person __________________ you saw yesterday at the station was my twin
bother.

7.A: You did it for the money.

B: No, the __________________ why I did it was to save the company.

8.A: What happened then?

B: The only __________________ I remember is something hitting the back of my

head.

9.A: Did you call the police?

B: No, what I __________________ was hide in the bedroom.

10.A: You did this to me!

B: No, I didn't. It was Sean __________________ did this to you.

II. Complete the second sentence so that it emphasises the underlined

words. Do NOT use contractions.

1.I need one hour to fix the computer.

All __________________

2.Tim spread the rumour.

__________________ the rumour was Tim.

3.We are not questioning your hard work.

It isn't __________________

4.I used to live in that house over there.

The place __________________ is that house over there.

5.We checked all the windows.

__________________ check all the windows.

6.We sold everything except the couch.

The only __________________ was the couch.

7.We arrived in Madrid in the evening.

It was __________________

8.You need to sign here.

All __________________

9.I would never ask Peter out.

The last __________________ is Peter.

10.My cousin told us what had happened.

It was __________________