CLEFT SENTENCE Meaning and
Definition
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A cleft sentence is a construction in grammar that emphasizes certain elements of a sentence by dividing it into two clauses. It is a type of sentence structure commonly used in English where a single sentence is reshaped to draw attention to a particular part or detail.
In a cleft sentence, the original sentence is split into two parts, often separated by the words "it was" or "it is." The cleft construction helps to highlight a specific element or clarify information for emphasis or contrast. The separated part of the sentence is usually the focus or the subject of the speaker's intention.
For example, in the sentence "She won the award," a cleft sentence might be formed as follows: "It was she who won the award." In this case, the cleft construction puts the emphasis on the person who won the award, highlighting her achievement.
Cleft sentences are commonly used to express emphasis, topic focus, or to introduce a contrast between two ideas. They are often utilized in formal speech and writing to convey the intended meaning more clearly and effectively. The distinctiveness of a cleft sentence lies in its structure, which allows for a particular element to be highlighted or given importance in the overall message.
Common Misspellings for CLEFT SENTENCE
- xleft sentence
- vleft sentence
- fleft sentence
- dleft sentence
- ckeft sentence
- cpeft sentence
- coeft sentence
- clwft sentence
- clsft sentence
- cldft sentence
- clrft sentence
- cl4ft sentence
- cl3ft sentence
- cledt sentence
- clect sentence
- clevt sentence
- clegt sentence
- clett sentence
- clert sentence
- clefr sentence
Etymology of CLEFT SENTENCE
The word "cleft" in "cleft sentence" comes from the Old English word "cleft", which means "split" or "divided". The term "cleft sentence" originated in linguistics and was first used by the American linguist Rulon Wells in the 1970s. The use of the word "cleft" in this context refers to the splitting or dividing of a sentence into two parts to highlight or emphasize a particular element or information.
