Lesson focus
It-clefts, wh-clefts, reverse clefts, fronting and emphatic structures for information focus
Advanced aim: Manipulate information focus through clefts, fronting and emphatic structures rather than simply producing marked word order.
It-cleft subject focus
Use It is/was + focused element + that/who... to highlight one constituent.
- Example: It was Maya who first noticed the inconsistency.
- In another context: It was Nadia who first noticed the inconsistency.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
It-cleft time focus
An it-cleft can focus a time expression.
- Example: It was only after midnight that the system finally came back online.
- In another context: It was only after midnight that the case-management platform finally came back online.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Wh-cleft
Use What + clause + be + focus to foreground a whole idea before identifying the key element.
- Example: What we need is a clearer explanation of the risks.
- In another context: Separate scenario: What we need is a clearer explanation of the risks.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Reverse wh-cleft
A reverse cleft places the focused element first and the what-clause second.
- Example: A clearer explanation is what we need.
- In another context: Follow-up case: A clearer explanation is what we need.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
All-cleft
All + clause + be can focus the only thing someone does, wants or needs.
- Example: All I asked for was a realistic timetable.
- In another context: Alternative case study: All I asked for was a realistic timetable.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Object fronting
Objects can be fronted for contrast or topic management in formal/literary discourse.
- Example: This explanation I can accept; the other one I cannot.
- In another context: Regional example: This explanation I can accept; the other one I cannot.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Complement fronting
Subject complements can be fronted for rhetorical emphasis, especially in formal writing.
- Example: More difficult still was the task of verifying the source data.
- In another context: More difficult still was the task of verifying the source records.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Adjective + though
Front an adjective before though/as for a concessive, formal structure.
- Example: Unpopular though the decision was, it proved necessary.
- In another context: Follow-up case: Unpopular though the decision was, it proved necessary.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Emphatic do
Do/does/did can add emphasis to an affirmative statement.
- Example: I do understand your concern, but I disagree with the conclusion.
- In another context: Alternative case study: I do understand your concern, but I disagree with the conclusion.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Place fronting
Place expressions may be fronted to structure a description, often with inversion when the subject is a full noun phrase.
- Example: At the centre of the courtyard stood an enormous oak tree.
- In another context: Regional example: At the centre of the courtyard stood an enormous oak tree.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
C1 takeaway
Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.
It-clefts, wh-clefts, reverse clefts, fronting and emphatic structures for information focus
Regional example: _____ first noticed the inconsistency.
_____ the booking platform finally came back online.
Follow-up case: _____ a clearer explanation of the risks.
Alternative case study: _____.
Regional example: _____ a realistic timetable.
Separate scenario: _____; the other one I cannot.
_____ the task of verifying the source evidence.
Alternative case study: _____ the decision was, it proved necessary.
Regional example: I _____ your concern, but I disagree with the conclusion.
Separate scenario: _____ an enormous oak tree.
It-clefts, wh-clefts, reverse clefts, fronting and emphatic structures for information focus
Separate scenario: _____ first noticed the inconsistency.
_____ the reporting tool finally came back online.
Alternative case study: _____ a clearer explanation of the risks.
Regional example: _____.
Separate scenario: _____ a realistic timetable.
Follow-up case: _____; the other one I cannot.
_____ the task of verifying the source information.
Regional example: _____ the decision was, it proved necessary.
Separate scenario: I _____ your concern, but I disagree with the conclusion.
Follow-up case: _____ an enormous oak tree.
It-clefts, wh-clefts, reverse clefts, fronting and emphatic structures for information focus
Follow-up case: It was Maya who first noticed the inconsistency.
It was only after midnight that the payment service finally came back online.
Regional example: What we need is a clearer explanation of the risks.
Separate scenario: A clearer explanation is what we need.
Follow-up case: All I asked for was a realistic timetable.
Alternative case study: This explanation I can accept; the other one I cannot.
More difficult still was the task of verifying the source material.
Separate scenario: Unpopular though the decision was, it proved necessary.
Follow-up case: I do understand your concern, but I disagree with the conclusion.
Alternative case study: At the centre of the courtyard stood an enormous oak tree.