·C1: outside the Core, inside your texts
C1 structures. A warning first: the Aptis Core measures up to B2, so these structures do not appear as C1-level questions. But in Writing and Speaking, C1 is shown through structures like these. In this video we look at five: inversion, cleft sentences, the subjunctive and it's high time, would rather and had better, and emphatic do. This is our reading of which structures help show your level, not a list the exam requires.
1/4Inversion
Inversion puts the auxiliary before the subject, as in a question, but the sentence is affirmative. It is used after negative or restrictive expressions at the start of the sentence: never, rarely, seldom, not only, no sooner, under no circumstances. Never have I seen such a view. Rarely do we go to the cinema. Not only did he forget the documents, but he also lost the keys. If the verb has no auxiliary, you add do, does or did. Use it once or twice per text, because more sounds forced. It is very formal and gives emphasis.
2/4Cleft sentences
Cleft sentences put the focus on the part of the sentence you want to highlight. There are two forms. The first is it plus be, what you highlight, and that or who: it was the delay that caused the problem, or it was my sister who called. The second is what plus subject plus verb, plus be: what I need is a rest. Spanish speakers do this by changing the word order or with intonation, and in English it is done with these structures. And beware of calques like the thing what, which does not exist in English.
3/4The subjunctive and it's high time
In English the subjunctive is hardly visible, but there are three places where it appears. First, after verbs like suggest, recommend, insist and demand, and after expressions like it is vital that: the verb is in its base form, without the third-person s. I suggest that he go. It is vital that she be informed. Second, in the formal second conditional, with were for all persons: if the witness were to testify. And third, it's high time or it's time, plus the simple past: it's high time you left. The past is not a real past here: it expresses that it is already time.
4/4Would rather, had better and emphatic do
Three more resources. Would rather, to express preference. With the same subject, plus the infinitive without to: I'd rather stay at home. With a different subject, plus the simple past: I'd rather you stayed. Had better, to give urgent advice, plus the infinitive without to: you'd better hurry. And emphasis with do, does or did in an affirmative sentence: I do think you should apologise, or she did say that. It is used to contradict, insist or correct, and it is pronounced with force. Don't use it in every sentence: it loses its effect.
·Time to practise
To practise, write five sentences about something that happened to you this week. One with inversion, one with a cleft sentence, one with suggest that and the base form, one with would rather, and one with emphatic do. Then read them aloud: if they sound forced, keep the best two. In Writing and Speaking, one or two structures used well are worth more than five squeezed in.