Lecture 29 It Patterns 29.1 Empty it and anticipatory it 29.1 Empty it and anticipatory it 1) Empty it 1) Empty it Empty it, as formal subject, also occurs in sentences denoting a general situation, Empty it, as formal subject, also occurs in 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 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 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. 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 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. 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 3) Pseudo-cleft sentences A pesudo-cleft sentence is essentially an SVC construction with a what-clause as subject. A pesudo-cleft sentence is essentially an SVC construction 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.