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.
A search in iWeb for:
What _P _V _VB
1 WHAT IT WOULD BE 11350
2 WHAT I ‘VE BEEN 10792
3 WHAT I THINK IS
9480
What I think is important, though, is to move beyond these large-brained mammals and give these guys more credit,
these simple animals, these insects that we tend to think of as very, very simple with tiny little brains.
4 WHAT I HAVE BEEN 9136
5 WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 7699
6 WHAT I MEAN IS 7340
7 WHAT YOU SEE IS 6947
8 WHAT YOU SHOULD BE 6853
9 WHAT I DO IS 6787
10 WHAT I DID WAS 6199
What _P _V * _VB
4 WHAT WE DO KNOW IS
4362
What we do know is that we took this box. Right?
6 WHAT YOU CAN DO IS 3819
7 WHAT I ‘M SAYING IS 3799
8 WHAT I DO KNOW IS 3416
10 WHAT I AM SAYING IS 3250
12 WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS 2730
A pre-modified example in a long phrase linked to more context:
The scope of what we can do is vast,
but it can start with making sure our local corporate websites are fully bilingual,
providing English training to our staff, and offering bilingual services to our local customers.
An example as an object with more context:
Here’s what he had to say “Thus I am an elitist if what is meant and understood is that I recognize there are differences in individual talent and capacity.”