WORKSHEET

EMPHATIC STRUCTURES

I. CLEFT Sentences

a) IT cleft sentences

it + a form of be (+not and/or adverb) + emphasised word/phrase + that/which/who clause

e.g. It isn't just his outlandish sense of humour that I'm complaining about.

Sentence Mike took Sally to the party on Saturday.

Emphasising the subject
Emphasising the object
Emphasising the adverbial
Emphasising the prepositional
phrase
It was Mike who took Sally to the party on Saturday.
It was Sally (that) Mike took to the party on Saturday.
It was on Saturday (that) Mike took Sally to the party.
It was to the party (that) Mike took Sally on Saturday.

b) wh- cleft sentences

wh- clause + a form of be + emphasised word or phrase

e.g. What Mike did was take Sally to the party.

N.B. do is used to highlight the action.

They are also common with verbs such as need, want, like, hate.

e.g. I hate rainy weather. What I hate is rainy weather.

You need a holiday. What you need is a holiday.

c) other types of cleft sentences

We use wh- clauses with when, where, who and why to highlight a person, a place, a time
and a reason.

Person The guy who told me about the new club was Zack.
Place The house where I used to live is near here.
Time The day (when) we left was the saddest day of my life.
Reason The reason (why) they never told me is they don't trust me.
 Focusing with What - clauses

1. Give responses beginning No, what..., correcting what was said in the question. Use the
notes in brackets to help.

1. Did you say that Bernard was going to live in Austria? (on holiday / Austria)
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2. Did you hope to sell your Picasso paintings? (be put into / public art gallery)
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3. Did it annoy you that Clare came so late? (not apologise)
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4. Did you mean to give Erica your bike? (could borrow it / until needed again)
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 Now give similar responses which focus on the action. (e.g. What I did was (to) buy...)

5. Did you watch the football on TV last night? (get brother / video it / watch tonight)
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6. This steak tastes delicious. Did you fry it? (put oil and soy sauce on / grill)
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7. Did you buy Sue the coat she wanted? (give / money towards it)
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8. Did you fly from Sydney to Brisbane? (hire a car / drive all the way)
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