1. CLEFT SENTENCES

2. The usual word order for a sentence in English is SUBJECT+ VERB + OBJECT+ADVERBIAL PHRASE Ex. I enjoy learning English at Colegio Andino (subject) (verb) (object) (adverbial phrase) Giving Emphasis: Cleft Sentences

3. However, if we want to emphasize that I particularly enjoy learning English (more that anything else), we can use a cleft sentence . It begins with a what clause and the verb be : Ex. What I enjoy most is learning English. Ex. What I like most about you is your sense of Humor.

4. Similarly, if we want to emphasize a noun, we use a cleft structure with it + be + noun + that/who: Ex. Jenny spends all her money on shoes. It is Jenny who spends all her money on shoes. or: It is shoes that Jenny spends all her money on.

5. We can also use an it- cleft sentence to focus on other parts of the sentence: Ex. It was in London that he met his first wife. (place) Ex. It was only when he phoned that I realized what had happened. (time) Ex. It is learning English that I find most enjoyable nowadays. (gerund action)

6. Material selected by Danitza Lazcano Flores Teacher of English Master in Education and Educational counselor