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 s

I Focusing with //-clauses
We can use an ff-clause to focus attention on certain information. Compare:
• '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 from Bob.' 'No, it was Tom that Helen bought the car from.'
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
be used, but usually only in informal English; and how or why can't replace that:
O • His parents were always there to help; it was to them that/who he now turned for support.
• • 'Sue's just arrived.' 'That's odd. It's usually on Thursday that/when she visits.'
• 'Was it by cutting staff that he managed to save the firm?' 'No, it was by improving
distribution that he succeeded.' (not ...how he succeeded.)

D Focusing with wftaf-clauses
Compare the following sentences:
• We gave them some home-made ice cream, and
• What we gave them was some home-made ice cream.
If we want to focus particular attention on certain information in a sentence, we sometimes use
a what-clzuse. followed by be. The information we want to focus attention on is outside the
what-dause. We often do this if we want to introduce a new topic; to give a reason, instruction
or explanation; or to correct something that has been said or done. In the following examples,
the information in focus is underlined:
• What I'd like you to work on is exercise two on page 38.
• Tim arrived two hours late: what had happened was that his bicycle chain had broken.
• 'We've only got this small bookcase - will that do?' 'No, what I was looking for was
something much bigger and stronger.'
We can often put the what-dause either at the beginning or the end of the sentence:
• What upset me most was his rudeness. or • His rudeness was what upset me most.
To emphasise an action performed by someone, we use a sentence with what...do...:
• Dave lost his job and was short of money, so what he did was (to) sell his flat and move in
with his brother.
• A: When the bookcase arrived, two shelves were broken.
B: Did you send it back?
A: No, what we did was (to) send them a letter of complaint.
The pattern in this kind of sentence is what + subject + do + be + to-infinitive clause. (Notice
that the 'to' in the infinitive can be omitted.)

P We rarely use other w^-clauses (beginning how, when, where, who, why) in the same way.
Instead, we prefer phrases instead of the w^-word. Here are some examples:
• The only reason (why/that) I left the party early was that I was feeling unwell.
(rather than Why I left the party early was...)
• The place (where/that) you should play football is the playground, not the classroom.
(rather than Where you should play football is...)
• The best way (in which/that) you can open the bottle is by putting it in hot water first.
(rather than How you can open the bottle is...)
• Somebody (who/that) I enjoy reading is Peter Carey, (not Who I enjoy reading is...)
• The time (when/that) I work best is early morning, (rather than When I work best is...)

Verb + wh-clauses = lt...(1)and(2)=>'