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Emphatic structures and inversion - Coggle Diagram
Emphatic structures and inversion
Clief Sentences
Form and use
'Cleft' means divided.
Information which could be given in one clause is divided into two parts, each with its own verb.
use
to emphasis some piece of new information,
to give explanation
to make a contrast with a previous statement.
Vanessa has made the greatest impact. (normal sentence: single clause, one V)
It is Vanessa who has made the greatest impact. (cleft sentence: 2 clauses, 2 V)
All of the Redgrave family are gifted actors. But it is Vanessa who made the greatest impact in the world of feature films.
I remember your uncle taking us to the fair.' ' No, it was my father that took us there'
It cleft sentences
It + a form of be (+ not and/or adverb)
:pencil2: emphasising the subject
:pencil2: emphasising the object
:pencil2: emphasising the adverbial
:pencil2: emphasising the prepositional phrase
:check: In informal English we can use when and where clause. (NOT why, how)
:check: we can't use it clefts to highlight the action or a verb complement in a sentence. We use wh-clefts.
Mike took Sally to the party on Saturday.
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.
...
It was greed why he did it. (NOT CORRECT) - It was because of greed that he did it.
It is using a calculator how he does it. (NOT CORRECT) - It is by using a calculator that he does it.
It was taking Sally to the party that Mike did. (NOT CORRECT) - What Mike did was take Sally...
It is totally unscrupulous that they are. (NOT CORRECT) - What they are is unscrupulous.
wh-cleft sentences
is used to highling the action in a sentence.
:<3: wh-clause + form of be + emphasised word or phrase
:check: what = the thing(s) that
:check: wh-clause must contain a verb
:check: to highlight the action we use a form of do in the wh-clause
:check: the highlight phrase contains a bare infinitive or to infinitive
:check: if the highlighted verb is in the continuous or perfect, the form of do matches it
is used to highlight the verb complement ((to express our opinion of smth or smb using and adj)
:<3: wh-clause + is + emphasised complement
What Mike did was take Sally to the party. (or to take Sally...)
The boys aren't leaving Sandy at home. They are taking him to the match. - What the boys are doing is taking Sandy to the match.
Old members are absent but the new members have taken theirseats in the assembly. - What the new members have done is taken their seats in the assembly.
What Jean and Bob are is stingy!
Do you think Jean and Bob are a bit cautious with their money?
Cautious? What they are is downright stingy!
Other types of cleft sentence
We usually use an introductory noun phrase + wh-clause with when, where, why to highlight:
:pencil2: person,
:pencil2: place,
:pencil2: time,
:pencil2: reason.
the (only/last) thing, all - to emphasise an item (described by a noun phrase or a verb phrase)
the (only) thing with a negative verb.
The one (who) we forgot to invite was lan.
The guy who told me about the new club was Zack.
The house where I used to live is near here.
The day ( when) we left was the saddest day of my life.
The reason (why) they never told me is they don't trust me.
The thing I most dislike about the movie was the scene in the graveyard.
The only thing we want is a chance to air our grieveyard.
The last thing we did was pack the kettle.
All we're asking for is to be given a chance.
The thing we won't do is repair goods bought in other shops.
The only thing we didn't find was the key to the cellar.
Reversed cleft sentences
We can reverse the order of the parts in wh-cleft sentences and put the emphasised part at the beginning.
There is a form in spoken English similar to a reversed cleft using this and that.
We only use reversed
it clefts
in a formal literary style. We put the emphasised part before it.
Taking Sandy to the match is what the boys are doing.
Zack was the guy who told me about the new club.
We have to get off here. This is where we have to get off.
They told me the same thing. - That's what they told me.
And thus Cezanne it was that took the first steps on the road to Ompressionism.
Fronting
Fronting objects and complements
we use it in spoken English to make contrast with smth in a previous statement.
we can do it with complements, demonstrative pronouns by 'fronting' them (moving them to the front of the clause)
is used to help the flow of spoken or written information by putting the known information at the beginning.
She's such a lovely person, so friendly and reliable.
(She may be friendly but she isn't reliable) - Friendly she may be, but reliable she isn't!
I disagree with that. - That I disagree with.
The house was large and sprawling, withtwo wings and a daark attic. Hilary spent most of her time in the drawing room or the garden. The attic she rarely visited.
Fronting adjective phrases: also and such
we can use a comparative or superlative phrase at the beginning to
to start a sentence with known information
to make an emphatic comparison witn information in a previous sentence
we can use the verb be followed by the subject
we can use a similar pattern with also and such
so + adj + a form of be + S + a that clause - to emphasise an adj
The first band was dire. Much more exciting was Red Heat, the second group to play.
Many of the monuments are truly awesome. Best of all is the Closseum.
Members of the royal family attended the funeral. Also at the service were several ambassadors.
They led a life of object poverty . Such is the fate of most illegitimate children in this province.
So intense was the heat ( that) the firefighters were unable to enter the building for two hours.
Fronting adverbials and infinitives: as and though
to put known information at the beginning of a sentence we can:
use an adverbial phrases describing position or place
use verbs of position and movement
use to + infinitive forms
:warning: we use all of that with inversion of the sibject and verb be
we can front infinitive form - when it 'echoes' an earlier verb.
we can front verbs and adjectives using as and though
At the back of the house was an untidy garden, much of which was taken up by a large and unkempt lawn.
Standing in the corner of the garden was a massively overgrown silver birch tree which towered over the roof of the garage.
For years I have been writing to the President in the White Huse. To meet him is my most fervent wish.
He said he would arrive on time. And he did (arive on time).
And arrive on time he did.
Battered though he was, he never lost his will to succeed.
Try as she might, she simply couldn't open the jam jar.
Inversion
Subject-verb inversion
to form a link with the information in the previous sentence ( common in formal English)
:<3: place adverbs + be or verbs of place/movement
:<3: time adverbs + be or verbs of place/ movement
:warning: we don't use inversion if the subject of the clause is a pronoun.
:pencil2: use in as and than clauses (in formal English)
:pencil2: use in fixed expressions, often with subjunctives.
Here lies the body of our late lamented sovereign.
On ne wall there was a beautiful rambling rose.
Opposite stood an ancient oak tree over a charming wishing well.
For the first hour the teams seemed every matched.
Then came the turning point in the game as Ed scored.
That was the final instalment. Next is the news.
Here comes the bus. Here it comes.
Mr Slater is expecting a pay rise, as are several other solesmen in the team.
I'm afraid her proposals are no more feasible than are those James presented.
So be it. Long live the king!
Subject-auxiliary inversion
we sometimes put an auxiliary before the subject in statements.
a list of cases below + ausiliary(do, have, should...) + S
:<3: after adverbs with 'restrictive' / negative meaning (hardly, scarcely, rarely, little,never)
:<3: only + time expression or prepositional phrases.
:<3: (in) no way, at no time, under no circumstances, on no account
:<3: not + only/time expression or prepositional phrase
:<3: no sooner ... than
:<3: clauses beginning with neither or nor.
:<3: clauses beginning with may which describe a strong wish.
:<3: after fronted comparisons, also, such, sо
Can not be inverted
:warning: expressions with no, not etc ( not listed above)
:warning: only + subject + auxiliary if there is no expression or prepositional phrase immediately after it
Little did we realise the true extent of his involvement.
Never have I seen such a disturbing sight.
Only later did he manage to get permission.
Only with a great deal of effort was he able to escape.
No way am I going to wear that! ( informal)
Under no circumstances can refunds be given.
Not only is he late, he hasn't even brough a present.
Not since the sixties had s pop group won such acclaim.
Not a single stone was left unturned in the search.
No sooner had we set out than the skies opened.
They have no intention of paying and neither have we.
We couldn't face the customers and nor could the boss.
May he live to regret this decision!
The captain is refusing to pay under these conditions and so is the rest of the team.