Yes, this type of sentence is called 'cleft sentences' - a kind of emphasis. This structure can be used to emphasize almost any part of a sentence.
For example, if we want to give importance to one part of this sentence: Expector enjoyed reading Tara's weekly news. We can use the structure 'It is/was...that(who)...':
--It was Expector who enjoyed reading Tara's weekly news.
--It was Tara's weekly news that Expector enjoyed reading.
Let's try to write a blog post to practice the structure - it can be so challenging and fun. And, I'll try to correct you if you really want to be corrected.
A sample paragraph by Expector:
It was a few days ago that I joined Tara's weekly news group. I'm so delighted that so many members here have already joined us there. Some members said it was Tara who inspired them to join in the discussion, or rather, it's not the news itself that's really important - it's our influential Tara that/who truly counts.
Your turn...
Comments
@noona
Great. I'll check it out immediately.
@Mohammad
Yes, it seems you can use either 'I' or 'me'.
@setareh
Great. I'll check it out in no time.
Dear Expector, here is my writing. Please correct my mistakes. Thanks in advance.
http://www.myenglishclub.com/profiles/blogs/expector-s-blog-challen...
Dear Expector,
Hi, Thanks for your reply, yes I use "I'm one who . . ." , so you believe that the both ones can be correct, but "It was me who ...", is common in informal English, right ?
And also it doesn't have any relation with the usage of pronoun as the object or subject.
Thanks
@Onee
Good. You got it!
Dear Doc Expector,
I was about asking the same question, but I found the answer through Google search precisely like your explanation. Thank you very much, Doc.
Hi Mohammad,
Good question! Thanks for asking - I really appreciate it.
Yes, when the emphasized subject is a pronoun, there is a choice (I or me; she or her...).
It was I who... It was me that...
The latter is probably more common in informal English, though.
In order to avoid this problem, you could use the following structure 'I'm the person/one who...', for example, 'I'm the person who should have pointed it out. '
Thanks again. I hope other members will get it too.
Hello dear Expector
I have a question. I want to know that if we want to use pronoun instead of names after "it is/was ..." which pronoun we should use ? an object pronoun or a subject one ? ("it is me" or "it is I")
Some members in their challenge writing have used the object pronoun while other members the subject pronoun. But you haven't told those members anything about this matter in your comments on their blogs. Also you didn't mention it in your blog (this blog).
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1- One of the member (Sophia) in her comment added to a member's blog, has said that:
"when a pronoun follows a linking verb, such as "is", the pronoun should be in the subject case. It’s also called the “nominative.” That means it is correct to say, “It is I,” and “It was he who dropped the phone in shock when Jodie answered, 'This is she,'” because "she" is the same type of pronoun as "I".
What are Linking Verbs? Linking verbs are words like "is," "was," "were," "appear," and "seem," which don't describe an action so much as describe a state of being."
Also she has referred to the following link:
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/it-is-i-versus-i...
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2- In other place, I saw anything else:
"The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage says that it’s a style choice, and that “It is I” is a formal style and “It is me” is a more casual style."
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3- I also in other site read that :
If we are using the pronoun as an object then we should use the object pronoun, and if we are using the pronoun as a subject then we should use the subject pronoun. Examples :
It was I who got the maximum marks in the class.
It was me whom they elected as the class president.
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If you want to know my comment about this topic, I will say that it seems that N.3 is more correct than others. Anyway please clarify more about this matter.
Thanks in advance, truly yours, Mohammad
@usra
Thanks!
@Seeker
Great! I'll check it out right now.
@the Way
Not really. They may sound the same, though.
@Evangelina
Thanks for the nice comment - you really made my day!
It's your kindness and effort that I really appreicate:) Have a wonderful day!
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