Emphatic Constructions

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Lead-in
How many emphatic constructions can you find in this dialogue?

Maria: Where on earth did I put my phone?

Bob: Not again… Have you looked in the bathroom? You’re so scatty
that you can never remember where you left it.

Maria: Well, you’ve got such a nerve! It was you who lost the laptop
the other day!

Bob: Yeah, I know that, but that’s only happened two or three times.
What I’m saying is that you need to be more organised! You do know
that, don’t you?

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 Emphatic constructions: emphatic questions

Maria: Where on earth did I put my phone?

Meaning:
We add ‘on earth’ to show surprise, annoyance or the fact that we don’t know the answer.
We emphasise the question word this way.

Form:

Where
When
Why on earth …..?
How
What

Use: We add ‘on earth’ to wh- questions and use them in informal conversations.

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 Emphatic constructions: emphatic auxiliary verb ‘do’
You do know that, don’t you?
Meaning:
When we want to add emphasis to a positive verb, we often add and stress the auxiliary verb ‘do’,
especially when we want to correct what somebody thinks, or contrast it with something else.
Form:
We only add the auxiliary ‘do’ to the present and past simple. Remember to put the main verb in V1.
-He doesn’t work, does he! -But he does work (V1)!
-You said you would call me. -But I did call (V1) you!
Use:
In other tenses, we only stress the auxiliary verb that is already there and don’t contract it.
You have already told me; But I am going to do it!

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Check your understanding

What is the phrase for emphasis?

What __ _____ is that!

Can you add the auxiliary do/did to a positive statement to add emphasis?

How do you show stress if the phrase already has an auxiliary?

He is going to the party.

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 Emphatic constructions: cleft sentences
It was you who lost the laptop…!
What I’m saying is that you…

Meaning:
Cleft sentences can help us emphasise any part of the sentence by ‘surrounding it’.
What I’m saying is that you… It was you who lost…..
Form:

annoys me
What is … It is
frustrates me person who ..
One thing that I’m trying to say is that … It was

Use: Cleft sentences are often used in speech, but they are also very useful in writing to emphasise
information when we can’t use our voice!

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Check your understanding

Finish the sentence. Turn the sentences to cleft sentences

I love sleeping in on Sunday morning.

What I love...

John left the door open.

It was John...

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Key point: emphatic constructions
In cleft sentences, remember to put the verb in the right form.

What I really like about this area is the parks.

BUT

What really annoys me is my neighbour’s dogs.

One thing that really drives me crazy is those gadgets.

Grammar tip:
Use it was … who to emphasise a person.
Use what …. is to emphasise an action or attitude.

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Grammar Checkout
Use one of the emphatic constructions we have learned to emphasise the words in bold
and write your ideas in the chat. Then check your answers.

1. Why did you do delete it?

2. But I failed that test, whatever you tell me!

3. The statistics in this case really confuse me.

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Grammar Checkout - Answers
Use one of the emphatic constructions we have learned to emphasise the words in
bold and write your ideas in the chat. Then check your answers.

1. Why did you do delete it?

Why on earth did you delete it?

2. But I failed that test, whatever you tell me!

But I did fail that test, whatever you tell me!

3. The statistics in this case really confuse me.

What really confuses me in this case is the statistics.

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What’s next?
Thank you for attending this grammar presentation.
Now you’re ready for…

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