Lesson 13
Теория (Emphasis structures (What…, It is… that…)
Зачем нужны emphasis structures?
Мы используем их, чтобы:
- выделить конкретную информацию
- добавить контраст или коррекцию
- усилить аргумент или вывод
- звучать формально / убедительно
WHAT-CLEFT SENTENCES
(What + clause + be + focus)
Структура
What + subject + verb + be + highlighted information
Пример
✔ What concerns me most is the lack of transparency.
✔ What he failed to realise was the impact of his decision.
📌 Часто используется для:
- мнений
- проблем
- выводов
- аргументации
Tense & agreement
What matters is the result.What matters most is how we respond.
(глагол be согласуется с тем, что идёт после него)
Common patterns
- What + worries / matters / surprises / annoys
- What + needs to be done
- What + happened was…
IT-CLEFT SENTENCES
(It is / was … that / who)
Структура
It + be + focused element + that / who + rest of sentence
Примеры
✔ It was the manager who made the final decision.
✔ It is innovation that drives economic growth.
📌 Используется, чтобы подчеркнуть:
- подлежащее
- дополнение
- обстоятельство времени / места / причины
Emphasising time / place
It was last year that the policy was introduced.It is in this context that the issue must be considered. (очень C1!)
WHAT-CLEFT vs IT-CLEFT
| What-cleft | It-cleft |
| фокус на идее / результате | фокус на конкретном элементе |
| более описательное | более точечное |
| часто в выводах | часто в аргументах |
Emphasis with correction / contrast
He didn’t fail because of lack of skill.✔ It was because of poor planning that he failed.
She wasn’t angry.✔ What she felt was disappointment.
Advanced C1 uses
Passive + cleft
It was the proposal that was rejected, not the budget.What was overlooked was the long-term impact.
Reporting / academic style
It is the extent of the damage that remains unclear.What can be concluded is that further research is required.
🔥 Очень часто в essays, reports, reviews.
Типичные ошибки ❌
❌ What I want is that you help me.
✔ What I want is your help / for you to help me.
❌ It is he that made the decision.
✔ It is he who made the decision. (формально)
✔ It is him that made the decision. (разговорно)
❌ What matters are the results.
✔ What matters is the results.
Emphasis ≠ inversion
⚠️ Это разные структуры:
- Never have I seen… → inversion
- What I have never seen is… → emphasis structure