Lecture 29 It PatternsLecture 29 It Patterns

29.1 Empty it and anticipatory it29.1 Empty it and anticipatory it 1) Empty it1) Empty it Empty it, as formal subject, also occurs iEmpty it, as formal subject, also occurs i

n sentences denoting a general situation,n sentences denoting a general situation,

eg. It has fared well with him. eg. It has fared well with him. It was dull when Mary was away. It was dull when Mary was away.

2) Anticipatory it2) Anticipatory it

Anticipatory it commonly occurs in sentAnticipatory it commonly occurs in sentences with a nominal clause as subject oences with a nominal clause as subject or object. r object.

Eg. It was not known whether there was Eg. It was not known whether there was gold left in the mine. gold left in the mine.

He made it clear that he didn’t want to He made it clear that he didn’t want to speak to me.speak to me.

29.2 It as introductory word of cleft 29.2 It as introductory word of cleft sentencessentences

1) 1) Cleft sentence definedCleft sentence defined A cleft sentence is an emphatic A cleft sentence is an emphatic

construction with non-referring it as construction with non-referring it as formal subject. It is also called formal subject. It is also called because it is formed by dividing a because it is formed by dividing a single statement into two separate single statement into two separate parts each with a verb of its own. parts each with a verb of its own.

It + be + focal element + that/ who-It + be + focal element + that/ who-clauseclause

2) Introductory it in cleft sentences 2) Introductory it in cleft sentences vs anticipatory itvs anticipatory it

The introductory it of a cleft sentence is functiThe introductory it of a cleft sentence is functionally different from an anticipatory it: the intronally different from an anticipatory it: the introductory it does not stand for any extraposed oductory it does not stand for any extraposed subject, while an anticipatory it does.subject, while an anticipatory it does.

3) Pseudo-cleft sentences3) Pseudo-cleft sentences A pesudo-cleft sentence is essentially an SVC cA pesudo-cleft sentence is essentially an SVC c

onstruction with a what-clause as subject. onstruction with a what-clause as subject. Eg. I gave her a handbag. Eg. I gave her a handbag. →→What I did was (to) give her a handbag. What I did was (to) give her a handbag.