Bài giảng cleft sentences cua thay Thoai

English Grammar in Use – Cleft sentences prepared by Tran Xuan Thoai Kien Luong
High School.
CLEFT SENTENCES
( Câu chẻ - câu nhấn mạnh )
A. Cleft sentences in the active :
1. Subject focus : We use cleft sentence to emphasize the subject of the action.
It is / was + S + clause ( S + V + …..)
Ex
1
: My brother bought a new car from our next- door neighbour last Saturday.
 It was my brother who bought his new car from our next- door neighbour last Saturday.
Ex
2
: The man gave her the book. => It was the man who gave her the book.
2. Object focus : We use cleft sentences to emphasize the object of the action.
It is / was + O + clause ( S + V + …..)
Ex
1
: My brother bought a new car from our next- door neighbour last Saturday.
 It was a new car that my brother bought from our next- door neighbour last Saturday.
Ex
2
: The boy hit the dog in the garden. => It was the dog that the boy hit in the garden.
3. Adverbial focus : We use cleft sentences to emphasize the adverb ( time / place / …… )
It is / was + adverbial phrase + clause ( S + V + …..)
Ex
1
: - My brother bought a new car from our next- door neighbour last Saturday.
 It was last Saturday when my brother bought a new car from our next- door neighbour.
Ex
2

: - She bought him a present at the shop. => It was at the shop that she bought him a present.
B. Cleft sentences in the passive : Cleft sentences can also be used in the passive voice.
Ex
1
: The boy hit the dog in the garden. => It was the dog that was hit in the garden.
Ex
2
: A. I heard that a dog bit you yesterday.
B. No. It was the postman that was bitten by the dog.
EXERCISES
Exercise 1 : Rewrite the following sentences; using Cleft sentences
1.The boy visited his uncle last month.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
2. My mother bought me a present on my birthday.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
3. Huong and Sandra sang together at the party.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
4. Nam’s father got angry with him.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
5. The boys played football all day long.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
6. The girl received a letter from her friend yesterday.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
7. His presence at the meeting frightened the children.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
8. The man is learning English.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
9. The woman gave him the book..
=> .......................................................................................................................................
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English Grammar in Use – Cleft sentences prepared by Tran Xuan Thoai Kien Luong
High School.
10. She sent her friend the postcard.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
11. Hoa borrowed the book from Long.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
12. The little boy greeted his grandfather in a strnge language.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
13. The pedestrian asked the policeman a lot of questions.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
14. The dog barked at the stranger.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
15. She made some cakes for tea.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
16. His father repaired the bicycle for him.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
17. She presented him a book on his birthday.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
18. He met his wife in Britain. => ......................................................................................
19. She bought that present from the shop.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
20. The meeting started at 8.00 a.m.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
Exercise 2: Change the sentences into cleft sentences in the passive.
1.Fans gave Christina lots of flowers.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
2. The pedestrian asked the policeman for direction to the post office.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
3. People talked a lot about his house.
=> .......................................................................................................................................

4. His father bought him a bicycle for his birthday.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
5. He described his hometown in his novel.
=> ......................................................................................................................................
6. She frightened the children.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
7. Her younger sister broke her glasses.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
8. The prince kissed my younger sister at the party.
=> ......................................................................................................................................
9. My father gave me this story book as a birthday present.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
10. Vietnamese people celebrate Tet as the greatest occasion in a year.
=> .......................................................................................................................................
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