Cleft sentences ( It was in June we got married .) - Cambridg... https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/...

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Cleft sentences ( .)  

from English Grammar Today

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.

-clauses are the most common type of cleft clause. The information that comes after is
emphasised for the listener. The clause which follows the clause is connected using and it
contains information that is already understood. We often omit in informal situations when it
is the object of the verb:

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

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

Focus (new information): it was your sister

Understood already (old information): I met someone in your family

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Cleft sentences ( It was in June we got married .) - Cambridg... https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/...

Focus (new information): the month August?

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Understood already (old information): you are going on holiday

When a personal subject is the focus, we can use instead of . We often omit in
informal situations when it is the object of the verb:

(or
.)

When a plural subject is the focus, we use a plural verb but + remains singular:

We can use negative structures in the clause:

cleft sentences are most often introduced by , but we can also use , etc.
The information in the -clause is typically old or understood information, while the information
in the following clause is new and in focus:

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

Focus (new information): they like smoked salmon

Understood already (old information): there is something that we need to do to fix the remote
control.

Focus (new information): we need to buy new batteries

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