Introduction to English SyntaxLevel 1 Course

Ron Kuzar

Department of English Language and Literature

University of Haifa

Chapter 10

Structural Alternations:

The It-Cleft sentence

Some Examples• Observe the following alternations:

– The shower curtain was mildewed.– It was the shower curtain that was mildewed.

– They found her body in the kitchen.– It was in the kitchen that they found her body.

– Warm coats are needed here very rarely.– It is very rarely that warm coats are needed here.

– I fail because I try too hard.– It's because I try too hard that I fail.

The Structure of the It-Cleft Sentence

• The sentences above instantiate a structural alternation called it-clefting.

• The sentence has two parts:– the it-part it was the shower curtain…– the that-part …that was mildewed.

• The it-part consists of:– the expletive it,– the copula be,– a clefted phrase:

NP, PP, AdvP, or adjunct clause.

The Formula of the It-Cleft Sentence

It (M) be NP that [rest of sentence]PP whichAdvP whoclause

Expletivecop cleft(ed)

element

Terminological Note

• It-cleft (sentence)

• Also:– cleft (sentence)

• The terms usually come in pairs: – either: cleft & pseudo-cleft– or: it-cleft & Wh-cleft

The Copula• The copula in it-cleft sentences can only be

the verb be, NOT a linking verb:– *It seems the shower curtain that was mildewed.– *It became the shower curtain that was mildewed.

• When the event is in the past, the copula may be in the present (the time of clefting) or in the past (the time of the event):– It is in the kitchen that they found her body.– It was in the kitchen that they found her body.

Substitutes for That

• Under circumstances that will not be discussed here, that may be replaced byzero (ø):– Spinach is good. It's carrots ø I can't stand.

• When the clefted NP is human, that may be replaced by who:– It was my landlord that was responsible for this.– It was my landlord who was responsible for this.

An Elegant Variant: X It Was Who…• Hearts 0–1 Hibernian • No doubt many bars in Edinburgh were packed, as fans from

both clubs went to watch live premiership football and saw new signing Brian Kerr ensure the points went back to Hibernian from the first Edinburgh derby of the new season. Kerr it was who rose to head the ball into the Hearts net from 10 yards in the second minute.

• After the first goal the game descended into a classic scrappy derby affair as both teams tried to dominate. Despite a frantic pace it was Hearts who won the battle for domination but they produced very few clear cut opportunities and found themselves struggling to even get their shots on target.

• Hibernian it was who finished the match as comfortable winners, after successfully defending their early goal and watching as new goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay was rarely troubled during the match.

The Sentential function ofIt-Celfts : Identification

• Similarly to the Wh-cleft, the it-cleft is also identificational.

• The incomplete statement is in the that-part:…… that suits you best.

• While the identified entity is in the it-part:It is the blue shirt that suits you best.

The Discourse Function of It-Clefts

• Most often, main sentence stress is on the it-part:

– It is the BLUE SHIRT that suits you best.

• In that case, the newsworthy information, the focal element, is at the beginning.

• The that-part contains presupposed information, that is assumed by the speaker to be known to the listener.

Prosodic Alternation• Sometimes, however, the it-cleft is used as a

formula for official announcements, in which case the focal, newsworthy information, the focus, is in the that-part, which is stressed.

• The it-part is often stressed as well, expressing the emotions of the speaker.– It is with DEEP SORROW that we announce THE

SUDDEN PASSING OF PROF. MARY SMITH.– it is with PROFOUND JOY that we welcome

BISHOP JOHN SMITH,TO OUR PARISH THIS FRIDAY.

• These sentences are NOT identificational.

Terminological note

• Prosody = the stress and intonation structure of phrases and sentences.

• Stress

• Also:– Accent

Partial Equivalences:It- vs. Wh-Clefts

• The following sentences are partly equivalent:

– We like SPINACH.– What we like is SPINACH.

• And so are these:– SPINACH we like.– SPINACH is what we like.– It is SPINACH that we like.

• A discussion of the differences between these alternants is beyond the scope of our course.

Terminological Note• The field of linguistics that addresses these

issues is called Information Structure.

• Also:– Message Structure– Information Packaging– Topic–Comment Analysis– Theme–Rheme Analysis

Caveat 1• An it-cleft sentence with a clefted NP may be

confused with an N-Cop sentence in which the NP predicate has a relative clause attached:– It’s the shirt that we bought at Zara.

• Context will disambiguate the sentence:– We didn’t buy the pants at Zara. It’s the shirt that

we bought at Zara.– This is not my sister’s shirt. It’s the shirt that we

bought at Zara.

• This-replacement can also serve as a test.• In the first sentence it is an expletive, in the

second – a pronoun.

Caveat 2• An it-cleft sentence with an NP clefted element

may be confused with an XP sentence with an NP evaluative predicate:– It’s a riot (that) he couldn’t remember.

• Context for it-cleft reading:– He didn’t just forget a usual demonstration. Oh no!

It’s a riot he couldn’t remember.

• Context for XP reading:– This is hilarious! Did he really forget? I think it’s a

riot he couldn’t remember.

• Can you think of another reading for this sentence?

Sample Question• Identify the it-cleft sentences:

– It’s Marvin. That I am sure about.– It’s Marvin that I am sure about.– It’s here that Marsha comes every year to relax.– It was sheer luck that your mother had the money.– It was sheer luck that your mother had.– Wow! It’s exactly the kind of food I like!– It was with her that I drank green tea for the first

time.– It was a day I will never forget.– It was just for one day that I wanted us to go.

Answers

– It’s Marvin that I am sure about.– It’s here that Marsha comes every year to relax.– It was sheer luck that your mother had.– It was with her that I drank green tea for the first

time.– It was just for one day that I wanted us to go.

Homework• Identify the it-cleft sentences:

– It is on the shelf. Take it down, please.– It’s on the shelf that the librarian put the book.– It might be in the room which is on your left.– This is the room I was looking for.– It is no wonder that she is so tired.– It could be in the box I gave you.– It is a wonderful thing that you could be so

helpful.– It was after we found out about him that he went

to the police.