Page 245 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

F o c u s i n g : i t - c l a u s e s a n d w h a t - c l a u s e swhat-clauses
it-clauses
and
Focusing:
I Focusing with //-clauses
Focusing
with
//-clauses
ff-clause
focus
use
to
attention
Compare:
on certain
can
information.
an
We
We can use an it-clause to focus attention on certain information. Compare:
from Helen.'
from Tom.' 'No, it was Tom that bought the car
‘Helen bought the car
• * 'Helen bought the car from Tom.’ 'No, it was Tom that bought the car from Helen.’
'Helen bought her car last year.' 'No, it was two years ago that Helen bought the car.’
• ¢ 'Helen bought her car last year.' 'No, it was two years ago that Helen bought the car.'
'No, it was Tom that Helen bought the car from.'
‘Helen bought her car from Bob.'
• ¢ 'Helen bought her car from Bob.' 'No, it was Tom that Helen bought the car from.'
clause
after be and is
usually
followed
emphasise comes
information we want to
by
a
The
The information we want to emphasise comes after be and is followed by a clause usually
beginning with that. We sometimes use which or who instead of that; when and where can also
beginning with that. We sometimes use which or who instead of that; when and where can also
only in
but usually
and how or why can't replace
used,
English;
that:
informal
be
be used, but usually only in informal English; and how or why can't replace that:
His parents were always there to help; it was to them that/who he now turned for support.
O @ • ° His parents were always there to help; it was to them that/who he now turned for support.
It's usually on Thursday that/when she visits.'
'That's odd.
• « • ¢ 'Sue's just arrived.' 'That's odd. It's usually on Thursday that/when she visits.'
‘Sue's just arrived.’
staff that he managed to save the firm?' 'No, it was by improving
it by cutting
• ¢ 'Was it by cutting staff that he managed to save the firm?! 'No, it was by improving
'Was
distribution that he succeeded.' (not ...how he succeeded.)
distribution that he succeeded.' (not ...how he succeeded.)
D Focusing with what-clauses
wftaf-clauses
Focusing
with
Compare the following sentences:
sentences:
Compare
the
following
• « We gave them some home-made ice cream, andand
ice
gave
them
home-made
We
some
cream.
• ¢ What we gave them was some home-made ice cream.
some
home-made
gave
cream.
was
ice
we
them
What
particular attention
If we want to focus particular attention on certain inin a a sentence, we sometimes use
use
sentence,
on certain informationinformation
want
If
focus
to
we
sometimes
we
what-clzuse.
to
information
attention
by
followed
The
focus
we
on
a a what-clause followed by be. The information we want to focus attention on is outside the
want
the
outside
be.
is
what-dause. We often do this if we want to introduce a a new topic; to give aa reason, instruction
if
reason,
topic;
to
often
give
this
We
do
we
instruction
to
new
want
what-dause.
introduce
been
or
has
said
that
to
correct
or
examples,
oror explanation; or to correct something that has been said or done. In the following examples,
done.
the
In
something
explanation;
following
the information in focus is underlined:
in
the
is underlined:
focus
information
• * What I'd like you to work on is exercise two on page 38.
work
two
is
What
you
on
page
exercise
38.
on
like
to
I'd
• ¢ Tim arrived two hours late: what had happened was that his bicycle chain had broken.
chain
what
Tim
had
had
broken.
hours
was
happened
bicycle
late:
his
arrived
two
that
• ¢ 'We've only got this small bookcase - will that do?' 'No, what I was looking for was
that
bookcase
this
was
for
I
-
was
'No,
only
small
what
will
got
looking
do?'
'We've
something much bigger and stronger.'
and
much
something
bigger
stronger.'
put
We cancan oftenoften put the what-dause eithereither at the beginning or the end of the sentence:
We
the
of
the
the
the
or
end
at
what-dause
beginning
sentence:
• ¢ What upset me most was his rudeness. oror — • * His rudeness was what upset me most.
rudeness.
his
was
was
His
me
upset
rudeness
me
most.
upset
most
what
What
To emphasise an action performedperformed by someone, we use a sentence with what...do...:
emphasise
what...do...:
with
by
use
we
action
a
To
someone,
an
sentence
• ¢ Dave lost his job and was short of money, so what he did was (to) sell his flat and move in
in
move
and
flat
he
did
money,
so
what
his
of
sell
was
(to)
Dave
and
short
was
job
lost
his
with his brother.
with
his
brother.
• ¢ A: When the bookcase arrived, two shelves were broken.
were
arrived,
bookcase
A:
When
shelves
broken.
the
two
B: Did you send it back?
back?
send
B:
it
you
Did
A: No, what we did was (to) send them a letter of complaint.
was
what
A:
a
No,
we
of
complaint.
letter
did
send
them
(to)
The pattern in this kind of sentence is what + subject + do + be + to-infinitive clause. (Notice
what
is
kind
subject
sentence
in
to-infinitive
this
(Notice
be
do
+
The
+
+
pattern
of
+
clause.
infinitive can be omitted.)
that the 'to' preferprefer phrases instead of the w^-word. Here are some examples: the same way.
in the
infinitive
can
'to'
that
be
omitted.)
the
the
in
Vet +wh-clauses than (where/that) I work best is early morning, the that by I was feeling in unwell. first.
(beginning how,
We rarely
when,
where, who,
why)
in the
w^-clauses
P
where,
rarely
who,
use otherother wh-clauses
use
how,
why)
when,
same
(beginning
We
in
way.
Instead, we
some
are
phrases
Instead,
examples:
wh-word.
instead
the
of
Here
we
The only reason (why/that) I
left the party early was that I was feeling unwell.
•
only
¢
The
reason
early
party
the
was
(why/that)
I
left
left the party early was...)
(rather than Why I
left
(rather
|
was...)
Why
early
the
party
•
The place
(where/that) you should play football is the playground, not the classroom.
should
football
not
The
the
play
¢
you
classroom.
playground,
is
place
is...)
(rather than Where you should play football
is...)
play
should
football
you
Where
(rather
than
•
The best way (in which/that) you can open the bottle is by putting it in hot water first.
is
best
which/that)
way
bottle
water
(in
¢
can
the
open
it
The
putting
hot
you
(rather than How you can open the bottle is...)
open
the
can
than
is...)
bottle
How
(rather
you
I enjoy reading is Peter Carey,
(not Who I enjoy reading is...)
• ¢
Somebody (who/that)
Somebody (who/that) I enjoy reading is Peter Carey. (not Who I enjoy reading is...)
The time
(when/that)
(rather than When I work best is...)
• ¢ The time (when/that) I work best is early morning. (rather than When I work best is...)
lt...(1)and(2)=>'
It... (1) and (2) =>
Verb + wh-clauses = =>