Emphatic structures and inversion

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CLEFT SENTENCES

It – Cleft sentences
It A form of “be” (+ adverb) Emphasized word/phrase That/which/who clause
It Isn’t just His outlandish sense of humor That I’m complaining about

We can use when and where clauses in informal English.

It was in January when I got the test results.
It isn’t in Green Street market where we’ll find the best bargains.

X But we do not use how or why.

It was greed why he did it. It was because of Greed that he did it.
It is using a calculator how he does it. It is by using a calculator that he does it.

Wh – Cleft sentences
(To highlight an action)
Wh – clause A form of “be” Emphasized word or phrase
What Mike did Was Take Sally to the party
To take Sally to the party
The highlighted phrase usually contains a bare infinitive or to + infinitive.

If the highlighted verb is in the continuous or perfect the form of “be” matches it.
Continuous What the boys are doing is taking Sandy home.
Perfect: What the new members have done is taken their seats in the assembly.

(To highlight a verb complement) Used to express an opinion.

Jean and Bob are stingy. What Jean and Bob are is stingy

Wh- can be replaced by:

The thing (that I most dislike…)
The only / last thing (that I want…)
All (I want)…

Starting with a noun phrase:

Person The person 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.

Reversion: Put the emphasized part at the beginning.

Taking Sandy to the match is what the boys are doing. Zack was the guy who told me.
Reversion in spoken English: (this that) They told me the same thing. That’s what they told me.
Formal literary style: And thus Cezanne it was that took the first steps on the road to impressionism.
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FRONTING

Objects and complements:

To make a strong contrast with something in a previous statement.
Friendly she may be, but reliable she isn’t”
For emphasis:
That I disagree with.
To help the flow of spoken or written information:
The house was large and sprawling with two wings and a dark attic. The attic she rarely visited.
Adjective phrases, also and such:
To make an emphatic comparison with something in a previous statement.
Many of the monuments are truly awesome. Best of all is the Coliseum.
With such and also:
Members of the royal family attended the funeral. Also at the service were several ambassadors.
They led a life of abject poverty. Such is the fate of lots of children in this province.
So:
So intense was the heat that….

Adverbial, infinitives, as and though:

To give new information:
Adverbial phrases (position or place): At the back of the house was an untidy garden.
Verbs of position or movement: Standing in the corner of the garden was an old tree.
To + infinitive forms: To meet him is my most fervent wish.
To echo an earlier verb:
He said he would arrive home and arrive home he did.
Though, as: Battered though he was…. Try as she might….
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INVERSION

Adverbs of place/time + verb: Here lies the body of Evita Peron. Opposite stood an ancient oak tree.
Then came the turning point in the game. Next is the news.
We don’t use inversion if the subject is a pronoun. Here comes it… Here it comes.
As and than clauses: Mr Slater is expecting a pay rise, as are several others.
The proposals are no more flexible than are those James presented.
Fixed expressions: So be it… Long live the king!

After adverbs with negative meaning: Little did we realize the true extent of his involvement.
Never have I seen such a disturbing sight.
Only + time expression: Only later did he manage to get permission.
Only + prepositional phrase: Only with a great deal of effort was he able to escape.
No way, at no time, under no circumstances, on no account: No way am I going to wear that.
Under no circumstances can refunds be given.
Not only/time expression: Not only is he late. He hasn’t even brought a present.
Not since the sixties has a pop group won such acclaim.
Not a single stone was left unturned in the search.
No sooner… than…
Neither – Nor: Neither did we… nor could the boss.
May: (Ojalá) May he live to regret his decision.

X Expressions with no, not can’t be inverted:

No doubt will he give us the keys. No doubt he will give us the keys
X “Only” with no time expression or prepositional phrase cannot be inverted.
Only can members park here. Only members can park here.