Cleft-zinnen: één deel in de schijnwerpers

Voorbeelden

1. It was the second letter that finally got a reply.

   Het was de tweede brief die eindelijk antwoord kreeg.

2. What I object to is being told at five o’clock.

   Waar ik bezwaar tegen heb is dat het om vijf uur wordt gezegd.

3. All we are asking for is a date.

   Het enige waar we om vragen is een datum.

4. The reason nobody complained is that nobody knew.

   De reden dat niemand klaagde is dat niemand het wist.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: It was the survey which changed our minds it.

  ✓Goed: It was the survey that changed our minds.

  De cleft bevat het voorwerp al; geen extra voornaamwoord.

• ✗Fout: What I want is to get a written answer is.

  ✓Goed: What I want is a written answer.

  Eén is verbindt de twee helften, geen twee.

• ✗Fout: The reason is because nobody knew.

  ✓Goed: The reason is that nobody knew.

  The reason is krijgt that, niet because.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AThat was the damp which made us withdraw it.
   2. BIt was the damp what made us withdraw.
   3. CIt was the damp that made us withdraw.
   4. DIt was the damp made us withdraw.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C It was the damp that made us withdraw.

   De it-cleft gebruikt that of which.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AWhat surprised me it was how quickly they replied.
   2. BWhat surprised me was how quickly they replied.
   3. CWhat surprised me was how quickly did they reply.
   4. DThat surprised me was how quickly they replied.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B What surprised me was how quickly they replied.

   De what-cleft heeft aan elke kant één onderwerp en één werkwoord.

3. 3Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AAll what I need is the reference number.
   2. BAll I need it is the reference number.
   3. CAll I need is the reference number.
   4. DAll that I need is it the reference number.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C All I need is the reference number.

   All (that) I need heeft geen extra voornaamwoord nodig.

4. 4Vul het gat in.

   _____ was the timing, not the cost, that worried us.

   1. AWhat
   2. BThat
   3. CIt
   4. DThere
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C It was the timing, not the cost, that worried us.

   De it-cleft begint met It.

5. 5Vul het gat in.

   _____ we need is somebody who can decide.

   1. AIt
   2. BThat
   3. CWhat
   4. DWhich
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C What we need is somebody who can decide.

   De what-cleft begint met What.

6. 6Vul het gat in.

   The reason we pulled out _____ the survey.

   1. Ais because
   2. Bthat was
   3. Cwas
   4. Dbecause was
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C The reason we pulled out was the survey.

   The reason … was plus een naamwoordgroep.

7. 7Vul het gat in.

   It was not until the third visit _____ anybody looked at the roof.

   1. Awhen
   2. Bthen
   3. Cthat
   4. Dwhich
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C It was not until the third visit that anybody looked at the roof.

   It was not until … that is de vaste constructie.

8. 8Vul het gat in.

   _____ happened next is in the second report.

   1. AThat
   2. BWhich
   3. CWhat
   4. DIt
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C What happened next is in the second report.

   What happened leidt de zin.

9. 9Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   Welke zin is fout?

   1. AIt was the agent who sent the letter.
   2. BThe agent was the one who sent the letter.
   3. CIt was the agent who he sent the letter.
   4. DIt was the agent that sent the letter.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C It was the agent who he sent the letter.

   De cleft levert het onderwerp al.

10. 10Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

    Welke zin is fout?

    1. AI do not understand why they waited.
    2. BWhat I do not understand is why did they wait.
    3. CWhat I do not understand is why they waited.
    4. DWhat puzzles me is why they waited.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B What I do not understand is why did they wait.

    De ingebedde vraag verliest haar inversie.