CLEFT SENTENCES

Click to edit Master subtitle style Made by: Aleksandar Veselinovikj 16193

5/15/12

5/15/12

Introduction
Cleft sentences are special

5/15/12

constructions which are used to give emphasis to a particular part of the sentence. They are particularly useful when writing where we cannot use intonation for purposes of focus or emphasis, but they are also frequently used

Introduction
Cleft structures include the reason why, the thing that, the person/people who, the place where, the day when and what-clauses which are usually linked to the clause that we want to focus on with is or was. These type of sentences are introduced by a
5/15/12

What - clauses
Structure:
What + focus + to be Ex:

I enjoyed the family most in my trip to Phoenix. What I enjoyed most in my trip to Phoenix was my family. How on earth did Nick let the boss know hed be late? 5/15/12

NOTE:
Note that cleft structures with what-

clauses are often used with verbsexpressing anemotive response to something like
adore, dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love,

need, prefer, want

5/15/12

All instead of What

It is sometimes very effective to use ALL

instead of WHAT in a cleft structure if you want to focus on one particular thing and nothing else.
Ex: I want to finish my homework. All I want to do is to finish my

homework.
We just need 5 minutes to fix it. 5/15/12

It - clauses
Structure: It + be + noun + that/who Ex: Jenny spends all her money on shoes. It is Jenny who spends all her money on shoes. Monica studied English at La Laguna university. 5/15/12

It - clauses
We can also use It to focus on the other

part of sentence: It was in London that he met his first wife. (place)
It was only when he phoned that I

realized what had happened. (time) It is learning English that I find most enjoyable nowadays. (gerund action)
5/15/12

Examples
I didnt suggest having a barbecue!

Itwasn't me who suggestedhaving a barbecue!

The computer gives me a headache.

Itis the computer that givesme a headache.

My uncle Tom came on Thursday.

Itwas my uncle Tom who cameon Thursday.

5/15/12

Examples
Money is the thing people care about

nowadays. Itis money the thing that people careabout nowadays

These men a re totally ruthless.

What these men are is totally ruthless.

We need better working conditions.

What we need are better working conditions.

5/15/12

5/15/12