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Asterix Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

pseudo cleft sentence

Dear language experts,

I'm interested in the verb form you can use in a pseudo-cleft sentence like this

A) What the dogs did was (to) say hello to the burglar instead of...

Is it also possible to say:

B) What the dogs did was saying hello....

Or is there a difference in meaning that I don't notice? According to my grammar book an -ing form and a pseudo-cleft are not used together.
  

Top answer

Asterix pseudo cleft sentence What you have is an equative pseudo-cleft with "do". If it's "doing", use the -ing form; otherwise just "(to) do". What the dogs do is bark.

— CalifJim

  • Asterix pseudo cleft sentence What you have is an equative pseudo-cleft with "do".
  • If it's "doing", use the -ing form; otherwise just "(to) do".
  • What the dogs do is bark.
  • What the dogs did was bark.
  • What the dogs were do ing was bark ing .
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1 Answers
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Asterix pseudo cleft sentence
What you have is an equative pseudo-cleft with "do". If it's "doing", use the -ing form; otherwise just "(to) do".

What the dogs do is bark.
What the dogs did was bark.
What the dogs were doing was barking.
AsterixAccording to my grammar book an -ing form and a pseudo-cleft a
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