Using clefts and other structures to highlight information
|
it-cleft sentences | page 4 of 4 |
Flexibility in it-cleft sentences
Using the it-cleft structure allows authors to choose which part of a sentence
they would like to focus on, as a noun group 
or an adverbial
can both follow it + be. In the
following sentence, the focus is on the phrase in Paterson's honour:
It was in Paterson's honour that Slim and Hugh got together at Roma Street railway station. (Bank of English)
However, the author might choose to focus on the subject of the sentence:
It was Slim and Hugh that got together in Paterson's honour at Roma Street railway station.
or the place:
It was at Roma Street railway station that Slim and Hugh got together in Paterson's honour.
The focus may also be placed on the object of a sentence. In the following example, the object his own money is highlighted by being placed before the subject and verb he wanted:
He had told her that he was going there to scout out a car for Mrs. Dambar so that they wouldn't have to rely so much on the Jeep. It wasn't that he had anything to hide. After all, it was his own money that he wanted to advance to Leo
. (Bank of English)
The it-cleft structure is quite common when the author wants to put extra focus on the reason for something, whether in a clause:
It's because I love you that I say no. (Bank of English)
or a phrase:
Since she moved here with Milos, we write to each other only occasionally but I still think of her often. It's because of Maria that I came.
(Bank of English)
Introduction
Flexibility in it-cleft sentences
