Grammar: 🚀 Advanced Grammar Concepts (C1) - Lesson 2: Complex Cleft Sentences & Other Emphasis Structures (What...is/was..., The reason why...is...)

🚀 C1 Lesson 2: Complex Cleft Sentences & Other Emphasis Structures

You know how to use basic cleft sentences to add emphasis¹. At the C1 level, we master more complex and varied emphasis structures² to make our writing and speaking more dynamic³ and precise. These patterns allow you to highlight⁴ the exact piece of information you want your audience to focus on.

1. Advanced Wh-Clefts (Why, Where, Who)

Beyond the common "What-cleft," we can use other Wh-words to emphasize different parts of a sentence, such as the reason, the place, or the person.

To emphasize a REASON:

→ Simple: "I came to Siem Reap because I wanted to see Angkor Wat."
→ Cleft: "Why I came to Siem Reap was to see Angkor Wat."

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To emphasize a PLACE:

→ Simple: "We had dinner at a wonderful restaurant on Pub Street."
→ Cleft: "Where we had dinner was a wonderful restaurant on Pub Street."

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To emphasize a PERSON (as object):

→ Simple: "I admire my parents the most."
→ Cleft: "Who I admire the most are my parents."

2. Other Emphasis Structures with 'be'

A similar emphatic structure can be created with noun phrases like "The reason why..." or "The first thing...". These are extremely common in natural, fluent English.

The reason why... is that...:
"The reason why I'm studying hard is that I want to get a scholarship."

The person who... is...:
"The person who told me about this cafe was my best friend."

The place where... is...:
"The place where you can see the best sunrise is on top of Angkor Wat."

🧠 Practice Quiz: Create the Emphasis

Rewrite these simple sentences using the target emphasis structure.

1. Rewrite to emphasize the place: "I bought this beautiful scarf at the Old Market." (Use "Where...")
   Answer: Where I bought this beautiful scarf was at the Old Market.
2. Rewrite to emphasize the reason: "She moved to Siem Reap because she got a job in the hotel industry." (Use "The reason why...")
   Answer: The reason why she moved to Siem Reap is that she got a job in the hotel industry.
3. Rewrite to emphasize the first step: "You must buy an entrance pass first." (Use "The first thing...")
   Answer: The first thing you must do is buy an entrance pass.
4. Choose the best structure to correct your friend: "Your friend says you like the temples most. You want to say you like the food most."
   a) The food is what I like most.
   b) It's not the temples that I like most; it's the food.
   Answer: b. The 'It-cleft' is perfect for making a direct correction or contrast.

📝 Homework: Emphasize Your Life

Answer the following questions using the target emphasis structure.

1. What is one thing you want to achieve this year? (Start with "What I want to achieve is...")
   (Example: What I want to achieve this year is to improve my professional skills.)
   _________________________________________
2. Why did you decide to learn English? (Start with "The reason why I decided...")
   (Example: The reason why I decided to learn English is that it opens up more career opportunities.)
   _________________________________________
3. Who is the most influential person in your life? (Start with "The person who...")
   (Example: The person who has influenced me the most is my grandmother.)
   _________________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Emphasis: (Noun) - ការសង្កត់ធ្ងន់ (kaa sâng'kât'thngón) - Special importance, value, or attention given to something. ↩
2. Cleft Sentence: (Noun Phrase) - ប្រយោគបំបែក (brâyoŭk bâm'baek) - A complex sentence that is "split" into two parts to put emphasis on one element. ↩
3. Dynamic: (Adjective) - ថាមវន្ត (théam'vânt) - Characterized by constant change, activity, or progress. ↩
4. Highlight: (Verb) - បន្លិច (bânh'lĭch) - To attract attention to or emphasize something important. ↩
5. Structure: (Noun) - រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ (rô'châ'na'sâm'poan) - The arrangement of and relations between the parts of something complex. ↩