A cleft is a construction in which an element in a sentence is moved from its normal position into a separate clause to give it greater emphasis. A cleft is also known as a cleft sentence, a cleft construction, and a cleft clause.
There is no specific point in the English Grammar Profile that suggests that “It was here that” is an example of introducing a cleft sentence for focus. We know that inversion starts around the B1 level but this may be C2 Clefting similar to that with nouns. Looking at the low frequency in the iWeb corpus […]
It + BE + location + that CLAUSE Read More »
At B1, in the English Vocabulary Profile, IT + BE + time + TO infinitive clause = something should happen: Is it time to go home yet? listen It was time to get back to work. listen Similarly, at C1, ‘time‘ can be premodified: I think it’s about time to make a deal. listen I think it is high time for me to get out of my house while I‘m still alive. Insidious: Chapter 3 At
would rather | it’s time + CLAUSE Read More »
Let’s analyse questions that have relative clauses to give emphasis. So usually, we would say something like: What do we want to ask? What are we trying to find out here? You can see the normal auxiliary verbs ‘be’ and ‘do’ get removed and relative clauses are added in the EXPERT EXAMPLES: What is it that we want
WHAT IS IT YOU WANT? (relative clause question) Read More »
On Pearson’s scale at GSE 71 B2+ describe present or future outcomes of a hypothetical situation using initial ‘only if’ with inversion of subject and object. ‘Only if’ + first/second conditional with inversion The complexity of this structure is highly unlikely to be B2 as Pearson has it listed. The most similar EGP construction is
ONLY IF + inverted conditional Read More »
A cleft construction beginning with “it” to emphasize the subject of the main clause is called an it-cleft. It is a type of sentence that divides the clause into two parts:
The cleft phrase, which is the part of the sentence that is being emphasized.
The relative clause, which provides more information about the cleft phrase.
(SUBJECT) CLEFT CONSTRUCTION WITH ‘it’ Read More »
This English Grammar Profile C1 point 53 in NOUNS/phrases defined complex noun phrases with ‘wh-‘ cleft clauses, followed by ‘be’, to give focus is also found in the category of FOCUS. A search in iWeb: . What _P _V _VB 1 . WHAT I MEAN IS 3278 2 . WHAT I DID WAS 1894 3
What + CLAUSE + BE Read More »
The English Grammar Profile C1 point 10 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘What’ + noun or pronoun + verb phrase as subject + ‘be’, for focus. Note that Pearson lists this point: GSE 59 B2 clauses with ‘What …’ to emphasise the topic or main point. For example: What we need now is a good night’s sleep. What I said was that I don’t need your help.
‘What you see is what you get.’ (CLEFT CLAUSE) Read More »
It -clefts consist of the pronoun it, a form of the verb to be, the focused element, and a relative-like dependant clause introduced by that, who/which or zero. grin.com In the English Vocabulary Profile (EVP), the pronoun ‘it’ is C2 when it emphasizes one part of a sentence. The example given in the EVP matches two C2 grammar points in the
C2 point 14 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘How’, ‘Why’, or ‘Where’ cleft clauses as subject, for focus. *Note, HOW + CLAUSE is also C2 as an exclamation. A search on iWeb for: . How|Why|Where _P _V * 1 . WHERE I LIVE , 688 2 . WHY YOU ASK ? 544
how | why | where + CLEFT CLAUSE Read More »
We use would be to make suggestions when we want to express our opinion or preference about something. For example:
It would be nice to go to the beach today.
It would be great if you could help me with this project.
WOULD + linking verb + adjective (suggestions | imagined situations) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 5 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘The thing, fact, point, problem, or reason + is (that)’ for focus. For example: The fact is I can’t take any more of your money unless I raise the rates on you. listen However, we believe the structure should not be limited to just the article ‘the’. For example: My point
The + thing | fact | point | problem | reason + is (FOCUS) Read More »
