UNIT 10: EMPHATIC STRUCTURES

I. Why are emphatic structures used?

We use emphatic structures to focus attention on a matter, an object or certain information.

II. Some kinds of emphatic structures

1. Cleft sentence structures

Focus
Cleft sentence
attention Examples
structures
on:
Subject:
+ Person Hoa is the best seller in my department
=> It is Hoa that/ who is the best seller in my department.

+ Thing My dog made neighbors very scared.

=> It was my dog that made neighbors very scared.
Object:
+ Person He gave his wife the whole confidential document
=> It was his wife that/whom he gave the whole confidential
document.

+ Proper I met Lan at the party.

noun => It was Lan that I met at the party.

It + be + … + that … + Thing She sent her friend a postcard.

=> It was a postcard that she sent to her friend.
Adverb:
+ Reason/ You can kill computer viruses by using this software.
manner => It is by using this software that you can kill computer
viruses.

+ Purpose My father repaired the bicycle for my brother.

=> It was for my brother that my father repaired the bicycle.

+ Place I was born in this house.  

=> It was in this house that I was born.

+ Time My father bought a new car last Sunday.  

=> It was last Sunday that my father bought a new car.
The We gave them some home-made cake.
information => What we gave them was some home-made cake.
What clause + be + …
outside the => Some home-made cake was what we gave them.
what-clause
An action He sold his flat and moved in with his brother.
What + S + do + be + performed => What he did was (to) sell his flat and move in with his
to-inf. … by SO brother.
The noun + (wh-word) Reason The only reason (why/ that) I left the party early was that I
+S+V… was feeling unwell.

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 Place The place (where) you should play football is the playground,
not the classroom.
(when, where, who,
why, how) Person Somebody (who/that) I enjoy reading is Peter Carey.
Time The time (when) I work best is early morning.

Practice 1: Rewrite the sentences to focus attention on the underlined information. Start with “it +
be” and use an appropriate wh-word or that.
1. Mark's known for ages that his parents are coming to stay with us this weekend, but he only told me
yesterday.
Mark's known for ages that his parents are coming to stay with us this weekend, but it was only
yesterday that he told me.
2. Caroline has been feeling a bit depressed for some time, so I booked a holiday in Amsterdam to cheer
her up.
Caroline has been feeling a bit depressed for some time, so ....................................................................
3. It's not that I don't want to have dinner with you tonight; I can't come because I've got so much work to
do.
It's not that I don’t want to have dinner with you tonight; …………………………………………………....
4. I had my wallet when I went into the sports hall, so I lost it somewhere in there.
I had my wallet when I went into the sports hall, so .................................................................................
5. She doesn't find learning languages very easy, and she improved her Spanish only by studying very
hard.
She doesn't find learning languages very easy, and ..................................................................................
6. I have had great help from my parents and two brothers in doing my research, and I dedicate this thesis
to my family.
I have had great help from my parents and two brothers in doing my research, and ...............................
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Practice 2: Give responses beginning “No, what ...”, correcting what was said in the question, as in
1. Use the notes in brackets to help.
1. “Did you say that Bernard was going to live in Austria?” (holiday/ Austria)
“No, what I said was that he was going on holiday to Austria.”
2. “Do you hope to sell your Picasso paintings?” (be put into/ public art gallery)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. “Did it annoy you that Clare came so late?” (not apologize)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. “Did you mean to give Erica your bike?” (could borrow it/ until needed again)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Now give similar responses which focus on the action, as in 5.

5. “Did you watch the football on TV last night?” (get brother/ video it/ watch tonight)
“No, what I did was (to) get my brother to video it and I’ll watch it tonight.”
6. “This steak tastes delicious. Did you fry it?” (put oil and soy sauce on/ grill)
………………………………………………………………………………………….
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)
…………………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 3: Write a sentence using the structure “(the) noun + wh-word” and the information in
brackets. You need to put the information in the right order and add an appropriate form of “be”.
1. “I suppose Paul got the job because of his qualifications.” (uncle owns company)
Well, actually, I think the reason why/ that Paul got the job was that his uncle owns the company.
2. “Do you know anyone who could mend my computer?” (might be able/ help/ Saleh)
I don’t know if he’s free, but ................................................................................................
3. “You grew up in this village, didn't you?” (between this village and next)
In fact ……………………………………………………………………………………....
4. “In what period of your life do you think you were happiest?” (lived in Australia)
I suppose ...............................................................................................................................

2. Inversion structures

Focus
Inversion structures attention Examples
on:
Negative adv + aux + S + V … Negative Never will I smoke again.
adv Not once did I miss a question.
Rarely/ Scarcely (ever)/ Barely (ever) would we go
out on Sunday.
Hardly (ever) does he take time off.
Nowhere have I seen such beautiful weather.
Seldom has their secretary made such mistakes.
In/ Under no circumstances should you lend him the
money.
On no account/ For no reasons must this switch be
touched.
In no way could I agree with you.
By no means does he intend to criticize your idea.
Not a single word did she say.
At no time did he get permission for what he wanted
to do.
Nowhere in the world can I find a beautiful girl as
you are.
No longer are we close friends.
Little did I understand what was happening.
Only adv + aux + S + V … Adv Only once did the manager issue overtime paychecks. 
Only by chance did I meet him. 
Only today didn’t I go to school.
……………………………………….

Only adv clause, aux + S + V …
Adv Only after we placed an ad in local newspapers,
clause could we receive some applications.
Only when you grow up, can you understand it. 
Only if you tell me the truth, can I forgive you.
……………………………………….

Note: Only he can speak English.

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 (“Only” contributes to the meaning of the subject.)
Not until + S + V…, aux + S + V Time Not until you finish your homework, can you go out. 
… clause

Not until + N + aux + S + V … Time Not until midnight did he came home.
Many a + N + aux + S + V … Object Many a word of love have I received from him, I have
not decided.

Adv Many a time have I said a word of love to her, I didn’t

receive any feedback.
So + adj+ be + S + that … Adj So strange is the situation that I can’t sleep.

So + adv + aux + S + V … + that Adv So deeply do I love you that I can’t live without you.
…
Such + be + N + that … Noun Such was the good novel that I read it during last
night.
Not only + aux + S + V … but also Clause Not only does he study well but also he sings
… after beautifully.
“not
only”
Adj + as/ though + aux + S + V … Adj Tired as is the teacher, he tries to teach us.

Adv + as/ though + aux + S + V … Adv Hard though does he work, he can’t be promoted this
time.

Note: No inversion
Tired as I am (am I), I try to teach you.
Unreal conditionals If clause Were I a millionaire, I would buy a plane.

Had he come to my party yesterday, I would have

No sooner + aux + S + V … +
than …
Hardly/ scarcely + aux + S + V …
+ when …
..., and so + aux + S
..., and neither + aux + S
Adv of place + V + S …
Adv of order + V + S …
introduced him to you.
Clause No sooner had she said it than she burst into tears.
time
Time Hardly/ Scarcely had they fell in love each other
clause when they got married.
Repeated Lan likes reading, and so does his sister.
action
I do not want to go, and neither does Tom.
Place In the forest are many exotic birds.
Around the corner is Sam’s house.
Under the tree slept a man.
In front of the gate stood the guard.
Beyond the mountains lies the town where you will
live.
Out ran the children when the bell rang.
The door opened and in came the doctor.
Order First is family, second is job.
First came the ambulance, then came the police.
Last went the tiger tamer.

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 Here/ there + V + S … Place There goes the train!
Here comes George!

Note: No inversion
There he is! (is he)
Here she comes! (comes she)
Here you are! (are you)
Direct speech Reporting “I have four children”, answered the old man.
verb
Note: No inversion
“I don’t smoke that brand of cigarette”, he said to me.
“I knew you could not pay your debts”, he will say.

Practice 4: Complete the sentences with an appropriate adverb and a form of either come or go.
1. We'd just got to the top of the hill when down came the rain and we got thoroughly soaked.
2. Just when you've bought a computer that you think will last a lifetime, ................................... some new
software that needs an even bigger hard disk.
3. Whenever I ask the class a question, .................................. their hands and they sit patiently until I
choose one of them to answer.
4. I asked Dave to get three kilos of potatoes from the supermarket and he only bought one, so
........................... he …………..... to get some more.
5. After I'd been waiting for an hour, the door opened and …................... the nurse, who said the dentist
would be able to see me now.
6. We'd given up hope of getting the cat out of the tree, when ..................... a man with a ladder.
7. As soon as I'd given Jo some packer money, .................................... she ........................ to buy sweets
from the shop.

Practice 5: Match the most likely sentence halves and then make new sentences beginning “Were ...,
Should ..., or Had ...”

1. If McGrath had not resigned as party leader, ...
2. If you do not wish to receive further information
about our products, …
3. If the plane were ever to be built, …
4. If United win again today, ...
5. If I were to be asked to take the job, ...
6. If a car had been coming in the other direction, ...
7. If there had been a referendum on the issue, ...
8. If you are not able to afford the Rombus 2000, ...
9. If Charles Dickens were alive today, …
a. it would cut the journey time from New York
to Tokyo by 4 hours.
b. there are less expensive models in the range.
c. he would have been sacked.
d. I would have no hesitation in accepting.
e. he would be writing novels about the homeless
in London.
f. it is unlikely that the country would have
supported the government.
g. it will be their tenth consecutive victory.
h. put a tick in the box.
i. I might have been seriously injured.

1 + c: Had McGrath had not resigned as party leader, he would have been sacked.

Practice 6: Write new sentences with a similar meaning beginning with one of these words and
phrases.
only if barely only with rarely at no time little
1. A new film has not often before produced such positive reviews.
Rarely has a new film produced such positive reviews.
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2. The public was never in any danger.
……………………………………………………………………………….
3. He only felt entirely relaxed with close friends and family.
……………………………………………………………………………….
4. The match won't be cancelled unless the pitch is frozen.
……………………………………………………………………………….
5. I didn't know then that Carmen and I would be married one day.
……………………………………………………………………………….
6. He had only just entered the water when it became clear he couldn't swim.
……………………………………………………………………………….

Now do the same using these words and phrases.

only once only in on no account hardly not only not for one moment
7. You must nor light the fire if you are alone in the house.
……………………………………………………………………………….
8. There was never any competitiveness between the three brothers.
……………………………………………………………………………….
9. I wasn't only wet through, I was freezing cold.
……………………………………………………………………………….
10. I had only ever climbed this high once before.
……………………………………………………………………………….
11. The audience had only just taken their seats when the conductor stepped on to the stage.
……………………………………………………………………………….
12. He has only been acknowledged to be a great author in the last few years.
……………………………………………………………………………….

Practice 7: Complete these sentences in any appropriate way. You can use the following words in
your answers.
alike boring complicated dominance interest strength
1. Such is the interest in Dr Lowe’s talk that it will be held in a bigger lecture theatre.
2. Such ............................................................................ that few buildings were left standing in the town.
3. Such ............................................................................ that he hasn't lost a match for over three years.
4. So ................................................................... that even their parents couldn't tell them apart.
5. So ..................................................................... that it even took a computer three days to solve it.
6. So ................................................................... that most of the students went to sleep.

Practice 8: Correct any mistakes you find in this newspaper item.

TOWN EVACUATED AS FOREST FIRES APPROACH

The people of Sawston were evacuated yesterday as forest fires headed towards the town. Such the heat
was of the oncoming inferno that trees more than 100 meters ahead began to smolder. Only once in recent
years, during 1994, a town of this size has had to be evacuated because of forest fires. A fleet of coaches
and lorries arrived in town in the early morning. Into these vehicles the sick and elderly climbed, before
they headed off to safety across the river. Residents with cars left by mid-morning, as all non-essential
police officers did. Hardly the evacuation had been completed when the wind changed direction and it
became clear that the fire would leave Sawston untouched. Soon after that were heard complaints from
some residents. "At no time the fires posed a real threat," said one local man. "I didn't, want to leave my
home, and nor most of my neighbors did." So upset some elderly residents are that they are threatening to
complain to their MP. But Chief Fire Officer Jones replied, "Hadn't we taken this action, lives would have
been put at risk. Only when the fires have moved well away from the lawn residents will be allowed to
return to their homes."

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Practice 9: Fill in the blanks with a suitable word or phrase.
1. Never before had he seen such a beautiful dress.
2. No sooner ........................................ than there was a knock at the door.
3. Only by ........................................... did we finish the report on time.
4. On no account ................................. arrive late on Monday morning.
5. Not only ......................................... my wallet, but my watch was missing, too.
6. Only when ...................................... did I realize I had been asleep.
7. Not since I was young .......................................... such an enjoyable day.
8. Under no circumstances ........................................... be informed of this agreement.

Practice 10: Rewrite the sentences using the words/ phrases given.
1. I have seldom eaten at such an expensive restaurant.
Seldom ...................................................................................................................
2. She had no sooner fallen asleep than the telephone rang.
No sooner ……………………...............................................................................
3. We not only got lost, but our car broke down.
Not only .................................................................................................................
4. I have never heard such a terrible story before.
Never before ...........................................................................................................
5. We realized only then that the jewels had been stolen.
Only then ................................................................................................................
6. Business has rarely been so good.
Rarely ......................................................................................................................
7. The boss has not once given him a bonus.
Not once ..................................................................................................................
8. You should not enter this room under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances ..........................................................................................
9. I got to know Peter only after meeting him several times.
Only after .................................................................................................................
10. The police didn't know that the man was a criminal.
Little ......................................................................................................................
11. I haven't been to the beach since last summer.
Not since ................................................................................................................
12. If I had known about the party, I would have gone.
Had ........................................................................................................................
13. We haven't had such a wonderful time anywhere else.
Nowhere ................................................................................................................
14. If I were Lan, I would look for a new job.
Were ......................................................................................................................
15. He had barely entered the office when the manager called him.
Barely ....................................................................................................................

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 3. Other structures

Focus
Other structures Examples
attention on:
S + do/ did + V1 An action No, that's not true. John did speak to Mary.
performed I do believe that you should think twice about this situation.
by SO
S + adv of frequency + A habit Martha is always getting into trouble.
V… Peter is forever asking tricky questions.
Passive Object When I came, my car was being repaired.
Fronting Front Where the money is coming from, I don't know.
clause Difficult as it may seem, it is not impossible to achieve.
… adv + adj Adj She is very beautiful.
… adv + adv Adv He drives extremely carelessly.
Possessive It was my own idea.
adj
Sentences with “at all/ Negative It wasn't cold at all!
in the least/ I wasn't in the least interested.
whatsoever/ really”
There was nothing left at all, really.
There was no ticket left at all, whatsoever.
Sentences with An air of Whatever are you doing?
question words ending disbelief Whoever told you that?
in -ever
Wherever did you go?
Sentences with Repetition David keeps reading the same book over and over again.
repetition I tried and tried but it was no use.
We walked and walked but we couldn't find our way to the
campsite.

Homework:
Practice 1: Rewrite these sentences, using inversion for emphasis.
1. You will get there on time if you leave now.
   Only if you leave now will you get there on time.
2. As soon as I got into bed, I fell asleep.
No ........................................................................................................................
3. We didn't notice the time until it was too late.
   Not until ……………………………………………………………………….
4. It was only after I drank the milk that I realized it was sour.
Only after ………………………………………………………………………
5. If I were a billionaire, I would buy an airplane.
Were ……………………………………………................................................
6.  I only noticed the scratch on my car when I looked closely.
Only when ………………………………………………………………………
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 7. They had no idea it was the wrong train.
Little ……………………………………………………….................................
8. There's no way I can meet him at the airport.
In no way …………………………………………….........................................
9. We could only get there on time by taking a short cut.
Only ……………………………………………………………………………
10. She's a brilliant actress and a talented writer as well.
Not ......................................................................................................................
11. Don't open the door on any account while I'm out.
On no account ....................................................................................................
12. If I had realized how late it was, I wouldn't have stayed so long.
Had .....................................................................................................................
13. I haven't eaten such delicious food anywhere.
Nowhere .............................................................................................................
14. You must not open this box under any circumstances.
Under ..................................................................................................................
15. I had never seen such a fierce dog before.
Never ..................................................................................................................
16.  I remembered my keys only after I had closed the door.
Only after ……………………………………………………………………..
17. We rarely had sweets when we were young.
Hardly ever .........................................................................................................

Practice 2: Read the information in the box then complete the replies. Each reply must contain a cleft
sentence.
Nick turned up late for work on Monday because he got stuck in a traffic jam on the ring road. Luckily
Nick has a mobile phone, so he was able to phone his boss and warn her that he would be late. She was
furious but managed to reschedule an importing meeting for the afternoon.

1. Nick was late because he overslept, wasn’t he?

No, it ……………………………………………………… that he was late.
2. How on earth did Nick let the boss know he’d be late?
Well, what ……………………………………………………… call her from his mobile phone.
3. Wasn’t Nick late on Wednesday?
No, ……………………………………………………… that he was late.
4. Nick’s boss had to start the meeting without him, didn’t she?
No, what she ……………………………………………………… the afternoon.
5. Didn’t Nick get stuck in a traffic jam in the town center?
No, not in the town center; it ……………………………………………………… got stuck.
6. I heard the boss was a little annoyed with Nick for being late.
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 No, she wasn’t “a little annoyed”. What ………………………………………………… .

Practice 3: For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to
the original sentence, but using the words given in bold.

1. We just need five minutes to fix it. All

………………………………………………………………………………………
2. I’m not questioning his dedication. It
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. These men are totally ruthless. What
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. We inherited everything except the house. The
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. You know the sales assistant told me exactly the same thing. That’s
………………………………………………………………………………………
6. We are taking the au-pair with us. What

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