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Lecture 29 It Patterns. 29.1 Empty it and anticipatory it 1) Empty it Empty it, as formal subject, also occurs in sentences denoting a general situation, eg. It has fared well with him. It was dull when Mary was away. . 2) Anticipatory it.
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Lecture 29 It Patterns • 29.1 Empty it and anticipatory it • 1) Empty it • Empty it, as formal subject, also occurs in sentences denoting a general situation, • eg. It has fared well with him. • It was dull when Mary was away.
2) Anticipatory it • Anticipatory it commonly occurs in sentences with a nominal clause as subject or object. • Eg. It was not known whether there was gold left in the mine. • He made it clear that he didn’t want to speak to me.
29.2 It as introductory word of cleft sentences • 1) Cleft sentence defined • A cleft sentence is an emphatic construction with non-referring it as formal subject. It is also called because it is formed by dividing a single statement into two separate parts each with a verb of its own. • It + be + focal element + that/ who-clause
2) Introductory it in cleft sentences vs anticipatory it • The introductory it of a cleft sentence is functionally different from an anticipatory it: the introductory it does not stand for any extraposed subject, while an anticipatory it does. • 3) Pseudo-cleft sentences • A pesudo-cleft sentence is essentially an SVC construction with a what-clause as subject. • Eg. I gave her a handbag. • →What I did was (to) give her a handbag.
