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What is a cleft structure?A cleft structure involves recasting a normal sentence pattern to give focus to a particular topic. The most common pattern is it + be + focus + clause.

Phoebe plays the guitar can be recast into:

It is guitar that Phoebe plays. (focus on the sport)It is Phoebe who plays the guitar. (focus on the person)

Structures to give emphasis

It + be + focus + clause (The commonest)The thing/sth or the person/sbOne thing, one personThe only, allThe thing thatBe + infinitive clauseImpersonal it + be (similar to the first one)

The thing, the personCleft sentences often use the thing/sth or the person/sbFor more emphasis, we could use one thing or one person

The thing (that) I like about him is his honestySomething (that) I hate seeing is my desk full of stuff

One person (who) I cant bear is my aunt ChonnySomebody (who) I would kill for is my mum (sweet, huh?)

The only and allIf we want to emphasise that we are excluding everything else, we can use the only or all.

The only lecturer you cannot learn sth from is Vicente Fors

All (that) I want is to eat ice-cream next to you

The only thing that Im really keen on is dancing

The thing thatThis phrase is also use to add emphasis

The thing that I bought back there is a pair of binoculars in order to keep a watch on my neigbour. He keeps doing pretty odd things

This sentence is often replaced with what (making a nominal relative clause)What I really enjoyed was how honest he was at the meeting

His honesty was what I enjoyed the most at the meeting

Be + Infitive ClauseWhen we talk about actions in the main clause of cleft sentences, we use a be + infinitive clause.

What we usually do in our spare time is go buy sweets and eat them while walking. Everyone keeps staring at us, but we do not care at all about that. Were happy.

What Im asked to do is attend three lectures and write notes down for 5 hours in a row. I obviously denied.

Impersonal it + beCleft sentences are often formed with this pattern. This is way the most common structure, which have been mencioned at the very beginning.

It was you who hung up in the first place, which means I love you more

It is me who have to do the tour on lair, not you. Youre doing entrechat quatre

Other ways of EmphasizingSo and such (a/an)You look so nice today, dear NinoThe dessert was so cloying that I was not able to finish it

Exaggerated lexisIm so starving/ravenous that I could eat you! (hungry)The weather today is absolutely freezing (cold)

Intensifying adverbsSimilesNo wonder hes fat. He eats like a horse and drinks like a fishMy plan worked like a dream, and no one touched my breakfast mug again

Use of On earthQuestion word + on earth + auxiliary verb + subject + verb

Who on earth would want to smell MariJuanis armpit?

What on earth am I doing here with you?

Stressing auxiliary verbsAuxiliary verbs in spoken English are not usually stressed (except for modal auxiliaries), and are usually contracted.If we stress them, it adds emphasis to the sentence. This emphasis is use in various ways, eg. To show determination, to convince someone or to contradict someone.

I did not fail the exam. Is the teacher who dislikes me!

Mum, I will clean up my room this evening. Word!

Do and did in present and past tensesIn present and past simple forms, do and did are used as stressed auxiliaries before the main verb to give emphasis.Subject + do/did + bare infinitive + complements

I do enjoy English Language II lessons. Thats the reason I wake up so happy every Thursday morning.You did know you should not steal from any place, right?I do like having something to read in the bathroomAnd yes, I did sing while I was having a shower. Whats the matter?

Exclamation forms WHAT

The word What is used at the beginning of exclamation sentences.

What a wonderful car! -What a nice weekend! - What nonsense! -

Can you provide more examples?

Other uses of WhatWhat is used with the part of the sentence that usually is after the subject, plus the verb.

- The football player scored a great goal. -What a great goal scored by the football player! -

The guitar player did an awesome solo. -What an awesome guitar solo! -

Anything to tell? Give us your ideas! -

What is followed (normally) by an adjective. Sometimes with an adverb too, which modifies the adjective. Even without an adjective or an adverb, the structure indicates something unusual (either for good or bad).

Exclamation forms HOW

Like What, How is used at the beginning of exclamations.

How mean you are! -How good was this ice-cream! -How cool is that!

Can you provide more examples?

Compare to emphasizeComparative structure can be used for emphasize.Usually the sentence contains a negative word, that is placed in the beginning of the sentence.

Nobody has a car like him! - Nothing better than sleeping in a Sunday morning. -Now, your turn to give us an example. -

Emphasise with adjectives and adverbsStrengthening the adjectives and adverbs is another way to make more emphatic a sentence.

I bought my guitar at unbelievably low price in Japan. -Narrativas class is extremely boring! -Your turn to give us some examples. -

FrontingThat means to put the information at the beginning of our sentence. That way the relevant info is in the front.

The best time to visit Canada is spring, in my opinion.Spring is the best time to visit Canada, in my opinion.In my opinion, the best time to visit Canada is spring.

Give us a few examples of fronting.

InversionThis is other way of emphasizing.Forms of inversionAfter a negative adverb.

Under no circumstances would I eat a cat

After a restrictive adverb.

Little did I ever imagine that It would happen

When the verb is used in a form with more than one auxiliary structure is

ADVERB + AUXILIARY + SUBJ + MAIN VERB

Never I had such poor service

Hardly had I started eating when I realized it was all gone

When the verb is used in a form with more than one auxiliary, the structure is

ADVERB + 1ST AUX + SUBJ + OTHER AUX + MAIN VERB

Never have she been surprised in that way

Never have I been so slapped for having unfaithful to my wife

With present/past simple, the structure is

ADVERB + DO/DID + SUBJ + MAIN BERB

Never did he consider he would work as a teacher

Seldom do he thinks about his cat when seeing others

With the simple form of be, the main verb is placed before the subject.

Rarely was she in time

Rarely was he at home

Example of AdverbialsHardlyHardly I had I gone to sleep when he called me

LittleLittle did I ever imagine that I would one day be making an English presentation like this

NeverNever have I met such a wonderful girl

No soonerNo sooner was the teacher in the class than everybody sit down

Not only but alsoNot only did she forgive him but she also bought a present for him

On no accountOn no account are we going to tell his parents the truth

SeldomSeldom do I walk near of her horrible house! I dont want to encounter with her

Under no circumstancesUnder no circumstances would I became a nun

Other common adverbials are:At no timeIn VainSuchBy no means

Adverbials followed by different patterns of inversionSo that

SO + ADJ + BE + SUBJ + THAT

So happy was he that he kissed me

Only after / not untilThey introduce a clause, so the inversion comes after the whole only after or not until clause

Only after Im sure my makeup is high profile, will I put in me, if not, I will try it on Marias face

Now, your turn to give us some examples And Thank you!!

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