sentence structure: it's only... that...

Question

Hi! I'm not sure if this is a correct sentence structure:It's only after I closed the door that I remembered I forgot the keys.Thanks!

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

I think it's fine/tolerated, a simplification from the full/stricter:

It was only after I closed the door that I remembered (that) I had forgotten the keys.

The final relative ("that") in this one above allows a tense simplification in the subordinate after it (I had forgotten->I forgot, past perfect-> simple perfect, see Swan) after it and it may be eliminated itself without loss of clarity.

Also, "It's" is used many times in this "atemporal" way, for past situations, but mostly in informal writing, but also in the New York Times:

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http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0617FE3F550C728EDDAA0894DC404482

... radio market. It's only after Mr. Stern turned against Mr. ...

March 21, 2004 - By FRANK RICH (NYT) - Arts
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However, you may want to consider other, stricter, alternatives:

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It was only after I closed the book that it dawned on me that feeling
better in this way made everything worse.

By JUDITH SHULEVITZ, The New York Times
http://tinyurl.com/ym7qyf
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BarbaraPA · Answer

Hi Marshmellow,

It's can be "it is" or "it has" but not "it was." As MH points out, "it was" is the right contruction, so I'd recommend removing the contraction and making it "It was."

Marshmellow_coffee · Answer

Thanks a lot Marius and Geek!! It's clear to me now : )

Anonymous · Answer

It's only key I forgot  to take  after closing the door.

sentence structure: it's only... that...

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