Questions tagged [clefts]
44 questions
1
vote
3 answers
As Much As / Cleft Sentence
I have difficulty understanding the following sentence from President Barack Obama's 2009 inaugural address.
For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the
faith and determination of the American people upon which this…
user48754
- 275
0
votes
2 answers
He was a real genius that invented this. — What's the non-cleft counterpart of this cleft sentence?
A cleft sentence has a corresponding non-cleft sentence, as in:
It was Tom that invented this. [cleft]
Tom invented this. [non-cleft]
A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (Quirk et al.) presents a cleft sentence where the personal…
JK2
- 6,553
0
votes
0 answers
TO in cleft sentences
Can anyone explain me why we sometimes have TO in cleft sentences in the second part of the sentence and sometimes don't?
*E.g.
What I'd really love to do is Ø go hang gliding once in my life.
What she wishes she had done is Ø find a job nearer…
dilek22
- 27
0
votes
1 answer
It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever done before
It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever done before.
I think this is an it-cleft.
Am I right?
If so, what's the cleft clause? Is it
that I do now
or
that I do now than I have ever done before
JK2
- 6,553
0
votes
0 answers
cleft/emphasis on this sentence: travelling is said to broaden the mind
What is the emphasised/cleft transformation of this sentence?
Travelling is said to broaden the mind.
(I'm going crazy on this one)
MITCH
- 1