Cleft sentences & Inversion

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

It is precisely the unexpectedness that makes those moments matter. What algorithms do brilliantly is optimise for engagement. Not only does personalisation risk narrowing what we encounter, it risks narrowing who we become.

Grammar Reference · Cleft sentences & Inversion

It-cleft — form

It + be + emphasised element + relative clause. It was the premise that surprised everyone.

Wh-cleft — form

What/All + subject + verb + be + complement. What algorithms do is optimise for engagement.

Inversion — negative

Negative adverb + auxiliary + subject + verb. Rarely do we ask what we might have wanted.

Common error

Not only personalisation narrows... ✗ → Not only does personalisation narrow... ✓ — inversion requires auxiliary

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Cleft sentences & Inversion

1.The money was not the most surprising thing about the Netflix competition.

2.The premise shocked observers most.

3.Algorithms struggle most with meaning.

4.Personalisation narrows what we encounter, and it also affects who we become.

5.We seldom consider what we might have enjoyed had we chosen differently.

6.Spotify has introduced millions of listeners to artists they love.

02Exercise 2 — Find and Correct the Error

find the error · rewrite the sentence

1.It was the premise which surprised everyone most.

2.What algorithms does brilliantly is optimise for clicks.

3.Not only personalisation narrows what we see, it narrows who we become.

4.Rarely we ask what we might have wanted from a different experience.

5.It was the Netflix competition who launched the prize.

6.What Spotify has done is introduced listeners to new artists.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

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

Cleft sentences & Inversion01classplan.ai