1) Who was it that left the room last?
(from a grammar book for Japanese high school students)
2) What was it (that) the man was saying?
(my original sentence)
3) I caught on to what it was the guy was saying.
(catch on)
[QUESTION 1]
Is #1 an it-cleft sentence?
[QUESTION 2]
Is #2 an it-cleft sentence?
[QUESTION 3]
Is the underlined part in #3 an it-cleft construction?
[QUESTION 4]
Is the "what" in #3 a relative pronoun (meaning "the thing which") or an interrogative pronoun?
For the definition of "it-cleft sentence", please click here.
it-cleft sentences
Moderator: Alan
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Re: it-cleft sentences
Q1-3: yes
Q4: a nominal relative pronoun (= that which)
Q4: a nominal relative pronoun (= that which)