Fronting and cleft sentences
This turned out to be a more difficult topic than I expected, not least because the authors of the book chose to include the topic of cleft sentences under the heading 'fronting'. I am not sure that this is helpful.
Here are the answers to the pair work activity and a list of the different types of clefted and fronted sentences.
Student A
The trouble is, she just never listens to a word I say.
A genius he may be, but a gentleman he isn't.
Try as he did, he couldn't persuade her to leave.
Reluctant though I was, I still asked for his help.
The fact of the matter is, you should always ask first.
Why he wanted to do something like that, I'll never know.
What I can't forgive is the fact that he lied to me.
The question is, will everything be ready in time?
The fact remains that there are no other alternatives.
Student B
The problem is, there isn't enough room to sleep four people.
The question is, will they really believe my story?
The fact remains that I simply don’t have any money.
What they told him,* I've absolutely no idea.
Hungry though they were, they carried on working.
Try as she did, she couldn't forget what he had said.
Funny he may be, but refined he isn't.
Where they disappeared to,* nobody knows.
The fact of the matter is, your car was parked illegally.
* I've added the commas as the answers on the exercise are inconsistent.
There are a number of different types of sentence.
1 Introductory phrases for emphasis
The trouble / question / problem / thing / fact / fact of the matter / fact remains
This is not fronting as nothing from an 'original' sentence has been moved.
The trouble is, she never listens to a word I say.
The original is simply She never listens to a word I say.
Fronting would involve moving one part of the section to the front for emphasis:
Not a word I say does she listen to. (But it's not a very natural example.)
Instead, an introductory phrase, The trouble is, has been added to give emphasis.
The trouble is, / The trouble is that…
The former seems more common. The latter wouldn't need commas.
2 Cleft sentences starting with what, the thing and all
What I can't forgive is the fact that he lied to me.
What irritates me most is his superior manner.
What I liked most about the story was the ending.
What I need now is drink.
We can often substitute the thing for what.
The thing I liked most was the ending.
This is a quite different use for the thing than the introductory phrase, The thing is….
When what would mean the only thing we can replace it with all.
All I need is another hour and I'll be finished.
All I want is some peace and quiet.
All you have to do is fill in a form.
All it takes is a little patience.
3 Fronted questions
Why he wanted to do something like that, I'll never know.
(I'll never know why he wanted to do something like that.)
What they told him, I've absolutely no idea.
(I've absolutely no idea what they told him.)
Where they disappeared to, nobody knows.
(Nobody knows where they disappeared to.)
Commas? Some books show them, others don't. Total English Advanced isn't even consistent.
I would favour them - there's a slight pause after the fronted questions when speaking.
4 Fronted contrast / concession clauses 1
Adjective as/though + clause, + clause
Reluctant though I was, I still asked for his help.
(Although I was reluctant, I still asked for his help.)
Hungry though they were, they carried on working.
(Although they were hungry, they carried on working.)
Hopeless as our task seemed, we were determined not to give up.
Our task seemed hopeless but we were determined not to give up.
5 Fronted contrast / concession clauses 2
Original structure: Smbdy/sthg may/might (be)… but s/he / it (isn’t)…
A genius he may be, but a gentleman he isn't.
(He may be a genius but he isn't a gentleman.)
Funny he may be, but refined he isn't.
(He may be funny but he isn't refined.)
6 Fronted verb + as subject may, might, did etc, + clause
Try as he did, he couldn't persuade her to leave.
He tried but he couldn't persuade her to leave.
Try as she did, she couldn't forget what he had said.
She tried but she couldn't forget what he had said.
Other verbs are possible, but not many:
Cry as I may, these tears won’t wash you away (Hold Me Up – Dave Matthews Band)
I may cry but these tears won’t wash you away