It was him that I saw dancing.

Question

Hi teachers!

Today, I have questions regarding "it~that~ emphasis" structure.

First, I want to know if an object and object complement can be emphasized as in #1, #2 and #3.

Second, I'd like to know if a subject and a subject complement can be emphasized as in #4.

Third, #5 is the examples of what we usually learn at school.

Finally. as in #5-1, I'd like to know whether 'that' is interchangeable with 'where'.

1. I saw him dancing.

-> It was him that I saw dancing. (?)

2. I had her stop smoking.

-> It was her that I had stop smoking. (?)

3. She believes me a teacher.

-> It is me that she believes a teacher. (?)

-> It is a teacher that she believes me. (?)

4. She is a student.

-> It is she that is a student. (?)

-> It is a student that she is. (?)

5. I met her in the park yesterday.

-> It was I that(=who) met her in the park yesterday. (0)

-> It was her that(=whom) I met in the park yesterday. (0)

-> It was yesterday that(=when) I met her in the park. (0)

-> It was in the park that I met her yesterday. (0)

5-1. -> It was in the park where I met her yesterday. (?)

Thanks in advance.

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AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Michelle ChaToday, I have questions regarding "it~that~ emphasis" structure.

This is called a cleft (split) sentence.

Here is an article about them: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-cleft-sentence-1689851

Michelle Cha> It was he that I saw dancing

This is very uncommon with the pronoun. Usually it is a person's name.

It was John that I saw dancing with Marie!

Michelle Cha2. I had her stop smoking.

This is too awkward to be used in normal circumstances.

Here is a better example.

It was the Jaguar, not the Mercedes, that I had painted red.

Michelle Cha3. She believes me to be a teacher.

Again, this is really awkward.

She believes that I am a teacher.

Michelle Cha-> It is she who is a student. (?)

Awkward.

Michelle Cha-> It is a student that she is. (?)

Never!

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