英语强调句造句练习

Cleft sentences add emphasis to a noun, a person, a time, a phrase or a clause using the structure it is/was and followed by that/who… or what… is/was. In the following examples the underlined part of the sentence is being emphasized.

• It was an Australian, Albert Ellis, who made the discovery from which Nauru is still reeling. • What strikes one first about the island is its size. • What they did was to ship the phosphate to Australia.

Note: in sentences referred to time that is usually preferred to when.

• It was only in 1968 that the Nauruans could begin to benefit from their riches.

LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES

• It is my car’s keys that I was looking for.

• It was Groucho who said. Excuse I can’t stand up. • It was last week that I heard about your car crash. • It was until I got home that I realized I’ve lost my keys

Note: a number of other words could be used instead of what like the thing (that), something (that), the person/people (who) or someone/body (that).

• The people who extracted the phosphate were Chinese labourers. • The thing that strikes one first about the island is its size.

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Note: all might be used rather than what to mean “the only thing that”.

• All the islanders did in the way of exercise was walk to the government offices once a week.

SOME EXAMPLES OF USING CLEFT SENTENCES

1. 2. 3.

It was after I read John Naish’s book that I began to make changes in my life. All I did was look at the cover and I knew the book would interest me.

One thing I’m curious to know is what kind of people come to the recycling center

to buy things.

4. 5. 6. 7.

What I mostly look out for is flashy jewellery All we have got is a wooden crate.

What is remarkable is that Sonya is the overall eating champion

Sonya ate forty crab cakes in twelve minutes. It is that record she is here this

morning to defend.

8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

The first outsider who laid eyes on Nauru was British sailor John Fearn. The first person who stepped the moon was Neil Armstrong.

It wasn't until I got home that I realized how close I had been of dying. What strikes one first about London is its weather is always raining. It was The Island of the Treasure the first book that I remember to read

Use a cleft sentence to rewrite the following statements. The emphasis is put on the word in bold

1.

The person who told me about the hotel was Keith.

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___________________________________________________________________ 2.

Only when the plane landed I felt a great sense of relief.

___________________________________________________________________ 3.

I left because I felt Ill.

___________________________________________________________________ 4.

Sarah saw a plane not a UFO.

___________________________________________________________________ 5.

I had to borrow my father’s car to go to the job interview.

___________________________________________________________________ 6.

The reason why I’ve come is to discuss my future with you.

___________________________________________________________________ 7.

My brother bought his new car from our next-door neighbour last Saturday.

___________________________________________________________________ 8.

Last night I lent my bike to Sue.

___________________________________________________________________ 9.

Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.

___________________________________________________________________ 10.

I can’t bear you because you are always complaining about everything.

___________________________________________________________________ 11.

He proposed to repair the building and turn it into a cultural center

___________________________________________________________________ 12.

His wife killed Peter in a fit of jealousy.

___________________________________________________________________ 13.

The person who recommended me to become a doctor was my father.

___________________________________________________________________

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14. My teenage daughter is missing and I don’t know what I can do.

___________________________________________________________________ 15.

The Great Dictator was the very first sound film of Charles Chaplin

___________________________________________________________________ ANSWER KEY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

It was Keith the person who told me about the hotel.

It was only when the plane landed that I felt a great sense of relief. It was because I felt ill that I left.

It was a plane that Sarah saw, not an UFO.

It was my father’s car that I had to borrow to go to the job interview It is to discuss my future with the reason that I’ve come.

It was our next-door neighbour who my brother brought his new car last Saturday. It was my bike that I lent to sue.

It was Christopher Columbus the person who discovered America in 1492. The reason why I can’t bear you is because you are always complaining about

everything.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

What he proposed was to repair the building and turn it into a cultural center. It was his wife who killed Peter in a fit of jealousy.

It was my father who recommended me to become a doctor. It is my teenage daughter who is missing.

It was The Great Dictator the very first sound film of Charles Chaplin

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