在句子当中，有时为了突出句子的某些成分以加强语气，增强感论坛彩或者加强对比，需要改变句子结构，这种结构叫强调结构。强调句型是英语语言学习中的一个重要语法项目，在历年的普通专升本考试中几乎都有涉及，并且每年的命题各有变化，但仔细分析试题不难看出，对强调句型的考查集中在强调句型的基本形式、强调句型用来强调状语、强调句的复杂化结构等方面。
考点一强调句型的基本形式
当需要强调句子的某一部分（一般是主语、宾语、状语）时，常用“It is（was） that（who） 句子的其余部分”这种结构。被强调的成分可以是主语、宾语和状语，但不能是谓语。
1.强调部分是人时，用who 或that
以He met an old friend in the park yesterday.为例：
It was he who/that met an old friend in the park yesterday.（强调主语）
It was an old friend that/who he met in the park yesterday.（强调宾语）
2.强调部分是其他成分时，用that
以He met an old friend in the park yesterday.为例：
It was in the park that he met an old friend yesterday. （强调地点状语）
It was yesterday that he met an old friend in he park.（强调时间状语）
考点二强调句型用来强调状语
对于强调句型用来强调状语的考查分成五小点，分别是：所强调的状语为单个副词、所强调的状语为副词性短语、所强调的状语为介词短语、所强调的状语为状语从句和所强调的状语涉及not…until…句式。
1.所强调的状语为单个副词
It was here that he differed from an Englishman.
他和英国人的不同就在于此。
It was only then that I began to learn the unpalatable truth about John.
直到那时我才开始了解有关约翰的一些令人难以接受的实情。
2.所强调的状语为副词性短语
所谓副词性短语，就是指起副词作用可用作状语的短语，如last week，some time ago，three days later等。
It was only last February that he announced he would run for president.
去年2月他才宣布自己将参加总统竞选。
It was last night that John wore his best suit to the dance.
约翰是昨晚穿着他更好的衣服去参加舞会的。
3.所强调的状语为介词短语
介词短语的主要功能就是用作状语，所以在强调句中，强调用作状语的介词短语的现象十分普遍。
It was through hard work that he succeeded.
他是通过自己的勤奋工作而成功的。
4.所强调的状语为状语从句
It was after he got what he had desired that he realized it was not so important.
在得到自己所渴望的东西后，他才意识到那并不是那么重要。
It was because I wanted to buy a dictionary that I went to town yesterday.
我昨天是因为想买本字典而进城的。
5.所强调的状语涉及not...until…句式
not...until…句式中的until可能是介词（用于引出介词短语做状语），也可能是连词（用于引出从句做状语）。这类句式的基本结构是It is（was）not until...that…（注意that后面的句子要用肯定式）。
It was not until the meal was over that he turned up.
一直到用餐结束以前，他都没有现身。
It was not until I met you that I knew real happiness.
直到我遇到你以后，我才真正体会到幸福。
考点三强调句的复杂化结构
强调句的复杂化结构包括：与宾语从句结合、与主语从句结合、与同位语与从句结合、与定语从句结合和not..until...句型的强调句。
1.与宾语从句结合
Mary said that it was because of all of the groupmember's contribution that she succeeded at last.
玛丽说正是由于所有小组成员的贡献，她才取得了成功。
在本句中，强调句做宾语从句。
2.与主语从句结合
It is what you do rather than what you say that matters.
正是你的行为而不是你所说的才是重要的。
在本句中，被强调部分what you do rather than what you say是主语从句。

3.与同位语从句结合
It was at the very beginning that Mary raised a suggestion that this meeting should be finished on time.
正是从一开始，玛丽就提出了建议，即本次会议应该按时完成。
句中，that this meeting should be finished on time是suggestion的同位语。
4.与定语从句结合
Was it in the village where we used to live in that the accident happened？
是在我们曾经居住的那个村子里发生了那场事故吗？
where we used to live in 是定语从句，用来修饰先行词village。
5.not...until…句型的强调句
It was not until ten o'clock that he went to bed.
直到十点钟他才上床睡觉。
not...until…句型的强调句中被强调的部分是not until后面的部分。