Use of Cleft Constructions in English Fiction

Abstract

The thesis deals with a highlighting construction, cleft sentence. This special structure, capable of putting emphasis on a particular piece of information, may be divided into two basic cathegories, it-clefts and pseudo-clefts. The latter is further divided into two distinct types, wh-clefts and reversed wh-clefts. The thesis studies different aspects of these focusing constructions and their occurrence and function in discourse. The main aim of the research is to examine the frequency of occurrence of individual cleft constructions and their ability to lay emphasis on different elements.