It-Clefts para Tempo e Lugar: 'Foi então que...'
emphasis e clarity à sua comunicação. Legal, né?
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'It + be + [Time/Place] + that' to put a linguistic spotlight on exactly when or where something happened.
- Start with 'It' plus the verb 'to be' in the correct tense. Example: 'It was...'
- Insert the time or place you want to emphasize. Example: 'It was in Paris...'
- Connect the rest of the sentence using 'that'. Example: '...that we first met.'
Overview
It-Clefts for Time and Place (orações clivadas com it para tempo e lugar) são ferramentas sofisticadas que permitem exatamente isso. Em vez de apresentar uma informação de forma neutra em uma oração declarativa simples, essa estrutura permite destacar, ou colocar em primeiro plano (foreground), uma informação temporal ou locativa específica.cleft sentences (orações clivadas, do verbo to cleave, rachar ou dividir) é guiar a atenção do ouvinte ou leitor diretamente para o elemento enfatizado, apresentando-o como particularmente significativo, novo ou contrastivo. Não se trata apenas de uma escolha estilística; reflete um princípio central da estruturação da informação no inglês, permitindo que você controle a saliência percebida de diferentes componentes da frase.The meeting was cancelled yesterday (A reunião foi cancelada ontem), uma It-Cleft pode destacar o momento exato: It was yesterday that the meeting was cancelled. Essa mudança sutil atrai o foco explicitamente para yesterday, talvez para corrigir um mal-entendido ou para introduzir um detalhe crucial em uma narrativa.crux) da comunicação naquele momento.It-Cleft for Time and Place funciona transformando uma única oração em duas partes distintas, daí o termo clivada (dividida). Isso envolve o uso de um sujeito expletivo (dummy subject) it, que atua como um preenchedor de espaço sintático, seguido por uma forma do verbo be. O elemento crucial de tempo ou lugar é então extraído de sua posição original na frase e colocado imediatamente após o verbo be, tornando-se o constituinte focado (focused constituent).It is/was [time/place phrase]) estabelece o contexto enfatizado.that, when (para tempo) ou where (para lugar). Esta oração contém o restante da frase original, com o elemento de tempo ou lugar enfatizado removido. O propósito comunicativo desse rearranjo sintático é criar uma estrutura de foco onde o elemento trazido para a frente (o tempo ou lugar) é apresentado como o principal ponto de interesse ou informação nova.I first visited Paris in 2010. (Visitei Paris pela primeira vez em 2010). Agora observe a transformação: It was in 2010 that I first visited Paris. Aqui, in 2010 é explicitamente destacado, implicando talvez que o ano é mais importante do que o ato de visitar Paris em si, ou que contrasta com um período mencionado anteriormente. A estrutura reorienta efetivamente o quadro interpretativo do ouvinte, guiando sua atenção para o elemento enfatizado como o ponto de partida (point of departure) para a compreensão da mensagem.Foi em... que... ou É aqui que....It + be + [Time] + that/when... | Foi/É + [Tempo] + que... | It was in 2020 that everything changed. | Foi em 2020 que tudo mudou. |It + be + [Place] + that/where... | Foi/É + [Lugar] + que/onde... | It is here that we work. | É aqui que nós trabalhamos. |that como subordinador universal em inglês são muito altas, enquanto em português tendemos a preferir quando ou onde para tempo e lugar, respectivamente, ou o que enfático.It-Cleft for Time and Place segue um padrão sintático preciso e consistente. Aderir a essa estrutura é essencial para a correção gramatical e a comunicação eficaz da ênfase. A fórmula geral é a seguinte:It + be (conjugado) + [Emphasized Time or Place Phrase] + that / when / where + [Rest of the Clause]It: Este é sempre o sujeito introdutório da frase clivada e permanece sempre no singular. Funciona como um sujeito vazio ou expletivo (dummy subject), semelhante ao seu uso em frases como It is raining ou It is important to study. Não carrega significado referencial, mas serve como um preenchedor gramatical para iniciar a frase.be verb: O verbo be segue imediatamente o It e deve ser conjugado para concordar com it (que é sempre singular). Crucialmente, seu tempo verbal (is para o presente, was para o passado) deve se alinhar com o tempo do verbo principal na oração subsequente (that/when/where clause). Isso garante a coerência temporal entre as duas partes da clivagem.be na Cleft | Exemplo |sees) | is | It is today that he sees her. |saw) | was | It was yesterday that I saw him. |has gone) | is | It is recently that he has gone there. |had left) | was | It was just then that she had left. |will arrive) | is | It is tomorrow that they will arrive. |[Emphasized Time or Place Phrase]: Este é o elemento central que você deseja destacar. Pode assumir várias formas:then, here, today, yesterday, now. Exemplo: It was then that the lights went out.in the office, at 5 p.m., on Monday, under the bridge, during the storm. Exemplo: It is in the office that we hold our meetings.It was last year that the project began.when usada como frase nominal): It was when he called that I understood. (Este é um uso ligeiramente mais complexo, muitas vezes limitando-se a uma Wh-cleft, mas pode enfatizar o *momento* do entendimento).that / when / where: Este atua como um subordinador, conectando a oração inicial It is/was com o resto da frase.that: Esta é a escolha mais versátil e geralmente segura, adequada para ênfase tanto de tempo quanto de lugar. Mantém um tom neutro. Exemplo: It was in Berlin that they first met.when: Usado especificamente ao enfatizar um elemento de tempo. Frequentemente soa mais natural que that nesses contextos, especialmente no inglês falado. Exemplo: It was on Tuesday when the announcement was made.where: Usado especificamente ao enfatizar um elemento de lugar. Semelhante a when, pode soar mais idiomático para ênfase locativa. Exemplo: It was at the cafe where we usually meet.that, when, ou where às vezes podem ser omitidos, particularmente após advérbios de tempo simples (It was yesterday I saw her). No entanto, para clareza, especialmente na comunicação escrita ou mais formal, é fortemente recomendado incluí-lo.[Rest of the Clause]: Esta é a parte restante da frase original, agora funcionando como uma oração dependente. Contém o sujeito e o verbo (e quaisquer outros objetos/complementos) que não faziam parte da frase de tempo ou lugar enfatizada. O elemento enfatizado não deve ser repetido aqui.in the park for enfatizado, você não diria It was in the park that I saw her in the park. Você diria It was in the park that I saw her.It-Cleft for Time and Place envolve um processo claro e sequencial de identificação do elemento a ser enfatizado e reestruturação da frase ao redor dele. Pense nisso como pegar uma peça chave de informação e dar a ela o lugar de honra no início da sua frase.It-Cleft enfatizada:- 1Comece com uma Oração Declarativa Simples: Esta é a sua base. Ela contém toda a informação que você precisa, mas sem ênfase específica.
I saw the rare bird near the old oak tree. (Vi o pássaro raro perto do carvalho antigo).- 1Identifique o Elemento de Tempo ou Lugar para Ênfase: Pinpointing exatamente qual detalhe temporal ou locativo você deseja colocar em primeiro plano. Este é o constituinte focado.
near the old oak tree.- 1Introduza a Cleft com
Ite o verbobeapropriado: Comece a nova frase comIt. O verbobe(isouwas) deve ser escolhido com base no tempo do verbo principal na sua frase original. Se o verbo principal estiver no passado, usewas; se estiver no presente ou futuro, useis.
saw (passado). Então, começamos: It was...- 1Insira a Frase de Tempo ou Lugar Enfatizada: Coloque o elemento escolhido diretamente após
It is/was.
It was near the old oak tree...- 1Adicione o Subordinador Apropriado (
that,when, ouwhere): Seguindo a frase enfatizada, insirathat(a opção mais geral),when(para tempo), ouwhere(para lugar). Para um lugar comonear the old oak tree,whereouthatseriam adequados.
where: It was near the old oak tree where...- 1Complete com o Resto da Oração Original: Pegue a frase original e remova o elemento enfatizado, então anexe esta oração restante após o subordinador. Certifique-se de que não haja repetição da parte enfatizada.
I saw the rare bird.It-Cleft final: It was near the old oak tree where I saw the rare bird.- 1Frase Simples:
She finally submitted her thesis on Friday.(Ela finalmente entregou sua tese na sexta-feira). - 2Elemento de Tempo Enfatizado:
on Friday - 3Introduza a Cleft: O verbo original
submittedestá no passado, entãoIt was... - 4Insira a Frase Enfatizada:
It was on Friday... - 5Adicione o Subordinador: Para tempo,
whenouthatsão apropriados. Vamos usarwhen.It was on Friday when... - 6Complete com o Resto da Oração: Frase original menos
on Friday:She finally submitted her thesis. - 7
It-Cleftfinal:It was on Friday when she finally submitted her thesis.
It-Clefts gramaticalmente corretas e comunicativamente eficazes. Com a prática, esse processo torna-se intuitivo, permitindo que você destaque estrategicamente informações temporais e locativas cruciais tanto no seu inglês falado quanto escrito.It-Clefts for Time and Place não são apenas um exercício gramatical; são ferramentas retóricas poderosas que permitem gerenciar o fluxo de informação e enfatizar detalhes específicos para vários efeitos comunicativos. Compreender suas funções pragmáticas é fundamental para utilizá-las de forma eficaz no uso avançado do inglês.It-Cleft permite que você corrija o registro de forma polida, mas firme, destacando o detalhe correto.No, it was on Tuesday that the meeting was rescheduled, not Wednesday. (Não, foi na terça que a reunião foi reagendada, não na quarta).Actually, it was just last week when the new policy was announced. (Na verdade, foi semana passada que a nova política foi anunciada).It-Cleft atrai atenção imediata para ele.It was in 1989 that the Berlin Wall fell, forever changing the geopolitical landscape. (Foi em 1989 que o Muro de Berlim caiu, mudando para sempre o cenário geopolítico).It was deep within the Amazon basin where the new species was identified. (Foi nas profundezas da bacia amazônica que a nova espécie foi identificada).It-Clefts podem ser usadas para marcar momentos ou cenários significativos, criando suspense, destacando a causalidade ou simplesmente guiando o ouvinte através da progressão da história.We had been driving for hours. It was only when the sun began to set that we realized we were lost. (Estávamos dirigindo há horas. Foi só quando o sol começou a se pôr que percebemos que estávamos perdidos).You can order office supplies anytime, but it is on Fridays that the orders are processed. (Você pode pedir suprimentos de escritório a qualquer momento, mas é às sextas que os pedidos são processados).It-Clefts for Time and Place devido à interferência da língua materna (L1). Entender o porquê desses erros ajuda a evitá-los.be (Atração do Plural)be no plural para concordar com ele, esquecendo que o sujeito gramatical é o It (singular).It were the 1990s when alternative rock became mainstream.It was the 1990s when alternative rock became mainstream.the 1990s (plural) e usa were. Em português, dizemos Eram os anos 90..., o que reforça essa tendência ao plural.It é um dummy subject singular e impessoal. O verbo be sempre concorda com o It, não com o constituinte focado que o segue.It was the office where I left my keys. (Tentando dizer: Foi no escritório que deixei minhas chaves).
It was in the office where/that I left my keys.Foi o escritório onde deixei..., embora
Foi no escritório...seja mais preciso. Em inglês,
the office sem preposição após It was soa como se the office fosse o objeto que foi deixado, não o local.I left my keys in the office), essa preposição geralmente deve ser mantida na frase enfatizada da It-Cleft.It was on Monday that we had the meeting on Monday.It was on Monday that we had the meeting.It-Clefts for Time and Place de outras estruturas de ênfase e orações relativas com as quais elas podem se parecer sintaticamente.It-Clefts vs. Pseudo-Clefts (Wh-Clefts)pseudo-clefts também isolam informações, mas usam uma oração relativa introduzida por what (ou where/when/who em alguns casos) como sujeito, seguida pelo verbo be e o elemento focado.It-Cleft (Tempo/Lugar) | Pseudo-Cleft (Wh-Cleft) |It + be + Focus + that/when/where... | What/When/Where... + be + Focus |It was in May that we met. | When we met was in May. |It is here that I want to stay. | Where I want to stay is here. |What he did was...). |It-Clefts vs. Orações Relativas com Sujeito ExpletivoIt is/was seguida por um substantivo e uma oração relativa, mas não é uma cleft sentence. A diferença reside na função do it. Em uma cleft, o it é vazio. Em outras estruturas, o it pode referir-se a algo mencionado anteriormente.Do you like this park?->
Yes,(Aqui,itis a placewhereI spent my childhood.
it = this park. Não é uma cleft, é uma definição/descrição).It-Cleft*: (Enfatizando o local em uma história) (Aqui,Itwas in this parkwhereI spent my childhood.
it é vazio. A ênfase é que foi *neste parque*, e não em outro lugar).It is/was e o subordinador (that/when/where) e a frase ainda formar uma oração simples e coerente (mesmo que sem ênfase), é uma It-Cleft. Se não puder, não é.It was in May that we met. -> In May we met. (Funciona = It-Cleft).It is a place where I spend time. -> A place I spend time. (Não forma uma frase completa com o mesmo significado original = Não é It-Cleft).that para tudo nas It-Clefts de tempo e lugar?that é o subordinador universal e é gramaticalmente correto tanto para tempo quanto para lugar em It-Clefts. Exemplo: It was in 2010 that... e It was in London that.... No entanto, o uso de when (para tempo) e where (para lugar) é muito comum, especialmente na fala, e pode soar levemente mais idiomático ou natural para falantes nativos em certos contextos.that é sempre uma aposta segura.It-Cleft em vez de apenas colocar o advérbio no início da frase?Yesterday, the meeting was cancelled) também dá ênfase, mas é uma ênfase mais suave, frequentemente usada apenas para definir o cenário (setting the scene) para a oração principal. A It-Cleft (It was yesterday that the meeting was cancelled) cria um foco muito mais forte e exclusivo. Ela isola o tempo/lugar, muitas vezes implicando um contraste (foi ontem, e não outro dia).
It-Cleft quando a informação de tempo ou lugar for o ponto *principal* da sua afirmação, especialmente para corrigir alguém ou introduzir um detalhe crucial.It-Clefts são muito formais para usar no dia a dia?Actually, it was with the marketing team where I left the report.It was in 2020 that... e It was 2020 when...?in. Quando você usa in 2020, você está enfatizando o período de tempo como um local no tempo (uma frase preposicional). Quando você diz It was 2020, você está enfatizando o ano em si como um substantivo.when após a preposição (It was in 2020 when...) é considerado por alguns gramáticos mais tradicionais como redundante (preferindo that), mas é extremamente comum e aceito no uso moderno, inclusive formal.Tense Variations of the It-Cleft
| Tense | It + Be | Focus (Time/Place) | Connector | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
It is
|
in the city
|
that
|
he works.
|
|
Past Simple
|
It was
|
in 1995
|
that
|
they met.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
It has been
|
since May
|
that
|
we've waited.
|
|
Future
|
It will be
|
at the gala
|
that
|
she'll perform.
|
|
Past Negative
|
It wasn't
|
until then
|
that
|
I knew.
|
|
Past Question
|
Was it
|
in Rome
|
that
|
it happened?
|
Contractions in Clefts
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
It is
|
It's
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
|
It was
|
N/A
|
Rarely contracted in standard English
|
|
It is not
|
It isn't / It's not
|
Standard negative contractions
|
|
It was not
|
It wasn't
|
Standard past negative contraction
|
Meanings
A construction used to focus on a specific piece of information (the focus) by placing it in a separate clause starting with 'It is' or 'It was'.
Temporal Emphasis
Highlighting a specific moment or period in time to show its significance to the event.
“It was in 1969 that man first walked on the moon.”
“It is only now that we are seeing the results of the policy.”
Locative Emphasis
Focusing on a specific location to contrast it with other possible places.
“It was in this very room that the treaty was signed.”
“It is in the heart of the city that the most vibrant markets are found.”
Corrective Focus
Using the cleft structure to explicitly correct a previous statement about time or place.
“No, it was on Tuesday that I sent the email, not Wednesday.”
“It wasn't in London that they stayed, but in a small village nearby.”
Reference Table
| Estrutura | Elemento Enfatizado | Exemplo | Frase Original |
|---|---|---|---|
|
It + be + TIME + that...
|
When
|
It was *yesterday* that I saw him.
|
I saw him yesterday.
|
|
It + be + PLACE + that...
|
Where
|
It was *in the park* that we met.
|
We met in the park.
|
|
It + be + TIME + when...
|
When (alternative)
|
It was *in 2022* when she graduated.
|
She graduated in 2022.
|
|
It + be + PLACE + where...
|
Where (alternative)
|
It was *at the cafe* where they first spoke.
|
They first spoke at the cafe.
|
|
It + be + PREP PHRASE + that...
|
Complex time/place
|
It was *after midnight* that he arrived.
|
He arrived after midnight.
|
|
It + be + ADVERB + that...
|
Simple time/place
|
It was *then* that I understood.
|
I understood then.
|
|
It + be + TIME CLAUSE + that...
|
Specific timing
|
It was *before the game started* that we left.
|
We left before the game started.
|
Espectro de formalidade
It was in the boardroom that the executive committee convened. (Professional meeting)
It was in the boardroom that we had the meeting. (Professional meeting)
It was in the boardroom that we met up. (Professional meeting)
It was in the boardroom where it all went down. (Professional meeting)
It-Clefts para Tempo e Lugar
Estrutura
- It is/was Início fixo
- Emphasized Phrase Tempo ou Lugar
- that/when/where Conjunção
- Rest of Clause O que aconteceu
Uso
- Correction Corrigir informação falsa
- Emphasis Destacar detalhe chave
- Storytelling Adicionar drama
- Clarification Remover ambiguidade
Exemplos
- It was yesterday... Ênfase de tempo
- It was in the lab... Ênfase de lugar
- It's now... Ênfase de tempo presente
It-Clefts vs. Frases Simples
Construindo um It-Cleft (Tempo/Lugar)
Você quer enfatizar um TEMPO ou LUGAR específico?
A ação principal da frase original está no passado ou presente?
Identifique a frase exata de tempo ou lugar que você quer destacar.
A frase enfatizada é um tempo (ex: 'yesterday', 'in 2023')?
A frase enfatizada é um lugar (ex: 'in the park', 'here')?
Construa o restante da oração original, removendo o tempo/lugar enfatizado.
Quando Usar It-Clefts (Tempo/Lugar)
Corrigindo
- • Data/Hora Errada
- • Local Errado
Contando Histórias
- • Momento Chave
- • Cenário Crucial
Esclarecendo
- • Informação Ambígua
- • Novo Detalhe
Adicionando Drama
- • Percepção Súbita
- • Evento Inesperado
Exemplos por nível
It is here that I work.
It is here that I work.
It was then that he left.
It was then that he left.
It is in the box that the toy is.
It is in the box that the toy is.
It was at 5:00 that we ate.
It was at 5:00 that we ate.
It was in Paris that they met.
It was in Paris that they met.
It wasn't at home that I saw her.
It wasn't at home that I saw her.
Was it on Monday that you called?
Was it on Monday that you called?
It was in the garden that we played.
It was in the garden that we played.
It was only after the rain that we went out.
It was only after the rain that we went out.
It is in this office that the decisions are made.
It is in this office that the decisions are made.
It was during the summer that I learned to swim.
It was during the summer that I learned to swim.
It wasn't until midnight that the party started.
It wasn't until midnight that the party started.
It was in the 1920s that the building was constructed.
It was in the 1920s that the building was constructed.
It is primarily in rural areas that the problem exists.
It is primarily in rural areas that the problem exists.
It was only when I saw the photo that I remembered him.
It was only when I saw the photo that I remembered him.
It was through this door that the thief entered.
It was through this door that the thief entered.
It was against this backdrop of economic instability that the revolution began.
It was against this backdrop of economic instability that the revolution began.
It is in the nuances of the language that the true meaning is found.
It is in the nuances of the language that the true meaning is found.
It was not until the final chapter that the mystery was solved.
It was not until the final chapter that the mystery was solved.
It was there, amidst the ruins, that they found the ancient scroll.
It was there, amidst the ruins, that they found the ancient scroll.
It was only upon the cessation of hostilities that reconstruction could commence.
It was only upon the cessation of hostilities that reconstruction could commence.
It is within the intersection of technology and ethics that our greatest challenges lie.
It is within the intersection of technology and ethics that our greatest challenges lie.
It was then, and only then, that the gravity of his error became apparent.
It was then, and only then, that the gravity of his error became apparent.
It is in the very fabric of our society that these prejudices are woven.
It is in the very fabric of our society that these prejudices are woven.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often use 'What' when they should use 'It' to focus on a specific time/place.
Confusing the existential 'There' with the dummy 'It'.
Erros comuns
Is here that I live.
It is here that I live.
It was in 1990 when I was born.
It was in 1990 that I was born.
It is in London that I met him.
It was in London that I met him.
It was because of the rain that caused the delay.
It was the rain that caused the delay. / It was because of the rain that the delay happened.
Padrões de frases
It was in ___ that I first ___.
It was only after ___ that I realized ___.
It is within ___ that the true ___ lies.
Real World Usage
It was during my time at Google that I developed these skills.
It was only when I got home that I saw your message!
It was in the 19th century that industrialization transformed the city.
It was at approximately 10 PM that the witness heard the noise.
It is in the hidden alleys of Kyoto that you find the best tea.
It was here that it all started! #memories
Encontre o Original
To form an It-Cleft, mentally rephrase your sentence into a simple SVO structure. Then, pull out the time or place you want to emphasize and build the cleft around it.
Não Exagere!
While powerful, using It-Clefts too frequently can make your writing sound forced or repetitive. Reserve them for moments when you genuinely want to highlight specific time or place details.
Qual Conjunção Usar?
That is always a safe bet. However, when feels more natural for time, and where for place. Using the more specific conjunction can make your sentence flow even better.
Sutil vs. Direto
Pratique com Perguntas
It was last week that I went.
Smart Tips
Use the negative it-cleft followed by the positive one for maximum clarity.
Use an it-cleft to define the scope of your research.
Try 'clefting' your time or place adjuncts to add variety to your rhythm.
Place these words immediately after 'is/was' for the strongest effect.
Pronúncia
Stress on the Focus
The word or phrase immediately following 'It is/was' receives the strongest sentence stress.
Weak 'that'
The word 'that' is usually reduced to a schwa sound /ðət/.
Rise-Fall on Focus
It was in ↗PARis ↘that we met.
Conveys certainty and emphasis on the location.
Memorize
Mnemônico
IT is the spotlight, BE is the stand, THAT is the bridge to the rest of the land.
Associação visual
Imagine a dark stage where a single spotlight (the 'It was') shines on a clock (Time) or a map (Place). Everything else on stage is in the dark until the word 'that' connects them.
Rhyme
If you want to show where or when, start with 'It was' and use 'that' then.
Story
A detective is interrogating a suspect. The suspect says 'I was at home.' The detective slams the table and says, 'No! It was AT THE BANK that you were seen!' The 'It was' makes the detective's point much stronger.
Word Web
Desafio
Look at your calendar. Pick three events from last week and rewrite them as it-clefts. (e.g., 'It was on Tuesday that I went to the gym.')
Notas culturais
It-clefts are very common in British academic prose to maintain an objective but focused tone.
In US political rhetoric, it-clefts are used to create 'soundbites' that emphasize specific values or locations.
Hiberno-English often uses cleft-like structures more frequently than other dialects for everyday emphasis.
Clefting has been a feature of English since the Old English period, though it became much more structured in Middle English.
Iniciadores de conversa
Was it in your hometown that you had your first job?
Was it only recently that you decided to master English?
In which decade was it that your country saw the most change?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
It was in the park ___ we first met.
That é a conjunção mais versátil e funciona perfeitamente aqui para introduzir o restante da oração após enfatizar o lugar. Você acertou em cheio!Find and fix the mistake:
It is last night that the concert was.
It-Cleft deve corresponder ao tempo verbal do evento descrito na oração com 'that'. Fique de olho nos tempos verbais!Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
It + be + tempo enfatizado + that + restante da oração: It was after the meeting that we left. Você montou o quebra-cabeça!Score: /3
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesI graduated in 2015. -> It was in 2015 ___ I graduated.
Which sentence correctly emphasizes the location?
Find and fix the mistake:
It is in 1945 that the war ended.
We first met at a concert.
In formal writing, 'that' is preferred over 'where' in it-clefts for place.
Person A: 'I heard you're moving to Spain in July.' Person B: 'Actually, ___'
Identify the correct structure.
Reorder the words to form a cleft sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesIt was at the cafe ___ I saw her reading your book.
It was on her birthday ___ he proposed.
It were a Sunday that they arrived.
It's next week when the deadline is gone.
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Foi só depois da palestra que ela fez a pergunta.'
Translate into English: 'É no jardim que as crianças brincam.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the clauses:
Match the sentences:
Score: /12
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes, in informal speech it is very common to hear `It was then when...`. However, in formal writing and exams, `that` is the preferred and safer choice.
You can use any tense of the verb `to be`. For example, `It has been in this house that we've raised our children` or `It will be at the meeting that we decide`.
An it-cleft starts with `It` (e.g., 'It was John who...'), while a pseudo-cleft (or Wh-cleft) starts with a Wh-word (e.g., 'What I need is...'). It-clefts are better for focusing on specific nouns/times/places.
Absolutely. `It wasn't in London that we met` is a very common way to correct someone's assumption.
Because the word `it` doesn't refer to anything specific (like a cat or a book). It is just a grammatical placeholder to allow the sentence to function.
No, it can be a long phrase. `It was only after three years of intensive research and many failures that the cure was found.`
Yes, especially when we want to be emphatic or when we are correcting someone. It adds a clear 'beat' to the sentence that draws attention.
Yes, for people, `who` is very common and accepted even in formal English. `It was Sarah who told me.`
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Fue entonces cuando / Es allí donde
English requires the dummy 'It', whereas Spanish starts with the verb 'Fue/Es'.
C'est... que
French uses this structure much more frequently in everyday speech than English does.
Es war... dass
German word order is more flexible, making clefts less 'necessary' for focus.
...no wa ... da
The structure is reversed: [Action] no wa [Time/Place] da.
Innama / Word order
Arabic lacks a 'dummy subject' equivalent to the English 'It'.
Shi... de (是...的)
The 'de' comes at the very end of the sentence, unlike the English 'that' which acts as a bridge.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vídeos relacionados
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