Cleft sentences & inversion

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Academics who study the carnival note that it is, in effect, a compressed history of an entire civilisation told through costume and rhythm.

Grammar Reference · Cleft sentences & inversion

It-cleft

Stresses one element. It was the young people who started it. — use It + be + stressed element + who/that

Wh-cleft

Fronts the key information. What makes it special is the layering of traditions. — use What + clause + be + noun

Negative adverb

Formal emphasis. Not only does it entertain, it also educates. — auxiliary moves before subject

Common error

Not only it entertains... ✗ → Not only does it entertain... ✓ — inversion is required

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Cleft sentences & inversion

1.The spontaneous mischief started everything. the spontaneous mischief that started everything.

2.The way Oruro layers traditions makes it unique. makes Oruro unique is the way it layers traditions.

3.Rarely the festival attract so little media attention despite its scale.

4.The Crane Festival is simultaneously a ceremony and a conservation event. makes it unusual is this dual purpose.

5. was the tomatoes that caused the streets of Buñol to run red.

6.Not only the procession begin at dawn, but it continues past midnight.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.The black-necked crane made the festival famous.

2.The combination of music and costume tells the story of Oruro.

3.The festival seldom disappoints international visitors.

4.The conservation message surprised me most about the Crane Festival.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Cleft sentences & inversion01classplan.ai