0
Jooney Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
It-Cleft sentences
Hi,
I have two questions about 'it cleft' clauses.
Q1) Are the following sentences different in meaning? Also, I'd like to know if both are grammatically correct.
A:It is the storage room that we put the table in.
B:It is in the storage room that we put the table.
Q2) Is it possible fot 'it cleft' constructions to go with relative words other than 'that' or 'who'? There is no mention about this in my grammar book. And While reading one of the posts related to 'it cleft', I found that a native speaker might not consider 'it cleft' versions natural in some cases. For example, some native speaker suggested that a better version of B was "It is in the storage room where we put the table." Do those two sentences in the above example sound unnatural to most of native speakers' ear? If so, what would be a better or commonly-used version?
I would appreciate it if someone could answer my questions.
I have two questions about 'it cleft' clauses.
Q1) Are the following sentences different in meaning? Also, I'd like to know if both are grammatically correct.
A:It is the storage room that we put the table in.
B:It is in the storage room that we put the table.
Q2) Is it possible fot 'it cleft' constructions to go with relative words other than 'that' or 'who'? There is no mention about this in my grammar book. And While reading one of the posts related to 'it cleft', I found that a native speaker might not consider 'it cleft' versions natural in some cases. For example, some native speaker suggested that a better version of B was "It is in the storage room where we put the table." Do those two sentences in the above example sound unnatural to most of native speakers' ear? If so, what would be a better or commonly-used version?
I would appreciate it if someone could answer my questions.
Top answer
1. A and B are grammatically correct. However, they are very formal-sounding.
- 1.
- A and B are grammatically correct.
- However, they are very formal-sounding.
- You would not hear people saying things like this in everyday speech.
- This is formal grammar text book-type English, perfectly correct, but not used in practical, everyday speech - I've never heard the term "it cleft" before.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
1. A and B are grammatically correct. However, they are very formal-sounding. You would not hear people saying things like this in everyday speech. This is formal grammar text book-type English, perfectly correct, but not used in practical, everyday speech - I've never heard the term "it cleft" before. In everyday speech you'd hear: "We put the table in the storeroom." or "It's in the storer
00
Q1. Both sentences are synonymous, grammatically correct, and unnatural. 'We put the table in the storage room.'
Q2. Yes, I think the other relative pronouns can be used there. However, in general, it is a structure used mainly in EFL exercises. For the normal version, see Q1.
Q2. Yes, I think the other relative pronouns can be used there. However, in general, it is a structure used mainly in EFL exercises. For the normal version, see Q1.
00
Thank you both for answering my questions.
I knew 'it cleft' sentences were hardly used in everyday conversations, but it's quite surprising to find that they don't sound natural.
I knew 'it cleft' sentences were hardly used in everyday conversations, but it's quite surprising to find that they don't sound natural.
00
There are still lots of problems with EFL courses, jooney – especially with the older, more traditional ones.
00
Thank you very much for the reply, Mister Micawber.
I think they are sometimes used in everyday speech though.
ex)
A: Who did this? You did it, right?
B: It wasn't me.(who did it)
Isn't this one of those 'it cleft' sentences?
I heard American people say something like this in TV shows.
I think they are sometimes used in everyday speech though.
ex)
A: Who did this? You did it, right?
B: It wasn't me.(who did it)
Isn't this one of those 'it cleft' sentences?
I heard American people say something like this in TV shows.
00
jooneyquestions about 'it cleft' clausesSee
Follow the links. Some of the posts are about it clefts; some are about pseudo-clefts.
CJ
00
Related Questions