Difference between revisions of "Cleft (definition)"

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==Definition==
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A 'cleft' (also referred to as a 'cleft sentence') is a complex sentence constructed using a focused element preceded by either a special clefting particle or a phrase like "it is" followed by a relative clause marked with the [[Complementizer (definition)|complementizer]] ''that'' or "which".  This type of complex sentence construction is usually used to bring focus to a particular constituent.  An example in English is "It was pizza that he insisted on eating.'' Gaelic uses a lot of clefts. They typically start with '' 'S e'' and are followed by a clause starting with the complementizer ''a'': 'S e pizza a dh'ith e''
A 'cleft' (also referred to as a 'cleft sentence') is a complex sentence constructed using a main clause and a subordinate clause; it expresses an idea or meaning that can be and is more often formed by a simple sentence.  This type of complex sentence construction is usually used to bring focus to a particular constituent that is placed into the main clause.   
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
[[Clefts]]
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*[[Clefts]]
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
[http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACleftSentence.htm SIL entry on clefts]
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*[http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACleftSentence.htm SIL entry on clefts]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_sentence Wikipedia entry on clefts]
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_sentence Wikipedia entry on clefts]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 22:22, 13 November 2009

A 'cleft' (also referred to as a 'cleft sentence') is a complex sentence constructed using a focused element preceded by either a special clefting particle or a phrase like "it is" followed by a relative clause marked with the complementizer that or "which". This type of complex sentence construction is usually used to bring focus to a particular constituent. An example in English is "It was pizza that he insisted on eating. Gaelic uses a lot of clefts. They typically start with 'S e and are followed by a clause starting with the complementizer a: 'S e pizza a dh'ith e

See Also

External Links

References

SIL entry on clefts