Complex Sentence Structures: Cleft Sentences: Shining a Spotlight on Specific Information
Think of sentences as a stage. In a regular sentence, all the actors share the spotlight equally. But with cleft sentences, we can shine a spotlight on one particular actor or piece of information.
What are Cleft Sentences?
Cleft sentences are a type of sentence that splits a single clause into two parts, emphasizing a particular element. They usually start with “It is/was” or “What” followed by the emphasized element, then a relative clause.
Why Do We Use Cleft Sentences?
Cleft sentences are used to:
- Emphasize a specific point: Draw attention to a particular detail.
- Add clarity: Clarify or correct a misunderstanding.
- Create contrast: Highlight the difference between two things.
Types of Cleft Sentences:
- It-cleft:
- Example: It was John who ate the last cookie. (Emphasizes “John”)
- Wh-cleft (pseudo-cleft):
- Example: What I need is a vacation. (Emphasizes “a vacation”)
- Reversed wh-cleft (inverted pseudo-cleft):
- Example: A vacation is what I need. (Emphasizes “a vacation”)
Let’s Practice!
Rewrite with Cleft Sentences: Transform the following sentences into cleft sentences, emphasizing the underlined part.
- I saw Mary at the store yesterday.
- The dog ate my homework.
- We need to leave at 5 pm.
- The blue car won the race.
Identify Cleft Sentences: Find the cleft sentences in the following text:
“It was the music that brought them together. What they shared was a love for jazz. A deep connection is what they formed.”
Challenge!
Write a dialogue between two people using cleft sentences to express surprise, disagreement, or emphasis.
Complex Sentence Structures: Parallelism: Creating Rhythm and Balance in Your Writing
Imagine your sentences as a musical score. Parallelism is like composing a melody with repeating patterns, creating rhythm and harmony in your writing.
What is Parallelism?
Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical structures to express similar ideas. It involves repeating the same pattern of words, phrases, or clauses.
Why Do We Use Parallelism?
Parallelism is used to:
- Create balance and rhythm: Make your writing sound more pleasing and polished.
- Enhance clarity and readability: Help readers understand the connections between ideas.
- Emphasize key points: Reinforce the importance of specific information.
Types of Parallelism:
- Words: She is kind, compassionate, and generous.
- Phrases: He loves swimming in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, and biking through the forest.
- Clauses: Whether you like it or not, we are leaving now.
Let’s Practice!
Rewrite with Parallelism: Correct the faulty parallelism in the following sentences.
- She enjoys dancing, singing, and to paint.
- He is good at fixing cars, repairing computers, and cooking.
- I like to read books, watching movies, and listening to music.
Identify Parallelism: Find the examples of parallelism in the following text:
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” (Winston Churchill)
Challenge!
Write a persuasive speech using parallelism to emphasize your main points and create a strong impact on your audience.
Let me know if you’d like more lessons on other aspects of complex sentence structures!
