Page 139 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

cleft sentences (1): What I need is a holiday 130
- Jake went to London ON TUESDAY to see Colin.
Tuesday was the day when/that Jake went to London to see Colin. The day when Jake went to London to see Colin was Tuesday.
- Jake went to London on Tuesday TO SEE COUN.
To see Colin was the reason why Jake went to London on Tuesday. The reason why Jake went to London on Tuesday was to see Colin.
The place. the day or the reason can be dropped in an informal style. especially in the middle of a sentence.
Spain's where we're going this year.
Why I'm here is to talk about my plans. (More formal: The reason why I'm
here is ...)
3 emphasising verbs: What he did was ...
When we want to emphasise a verb (or an expression beginning with a verb). we have to use a more complicated structure with what . .. do. Infinitives with and without to are possible.
- He SCREAMED.
What he did was (to) scream.
- She WRITES SCIENCE FlC/'ION.
What she does is (to) write science fiction.
Instead of an infinitive. we often use subject + verb in an informal style. What she does is, she writes science fiction.
What I'll do is, I'U phone John and ask his advice.
4 emphasising a whole sentence
A whole sentence can be given extra emphasis by using a cleft structure with what and the verb happen. Compare:
The car broke down.
What happened was (that) the car broke down.
S other structures
All (that), and expressions with thing, can be used in cleft sentences. AU I want is a home somewhere. AU you need is love.
All (that) I did was (to) touch the window, and it broke.
The only thing I remember is a terrible pain in my head. The first thing was to make some coffee.
My first journey abroad is something I shall never forget.
Time expressions can be emphasised with It was not until . .. and It was only when .. ..
It was lWt until I met you that I knew real happiness.
This is where you pay.
(OR Here is where you pay.)
For more about question-word clauses. see 485.
For more general information about sentence structure and the arrangement of information in
It was only when I read her letter that I realised what was happening.
At the beginning of a cleft sentence, this and that often replace emphasised here and there. Compare:
- You pay here.
sentences. see 512.
- We live there.
That's where we live.
(OR There's where we live.)
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