VOA慢速英语:Christmas 2010 in America: Three Stories of Struggle, Tradition and Wonder

it强调句型

it 引导的强调句型，通常形式为：It + be +被强调部分+ that/who +句子其他成分。这种强调句由普通陈述句转换而来，用来强调句子的主语、宾语或状语。例如：

It was Tom's mother that / who bought Tom a bicycle on his birthday.

是汤姆的妈妈在汤姆生日那天给他买了辆自行车。

It was yesterday that I met him. 我是昨天见到他的。

在此类强调句中需要注意的是：

1)不管被强调部分是单数还是复数，其前一律用it is / was 而不能用 they are /were

It is the teachers who teach me very well. 这就是教我教得很好的老师。

2)被强调部分指人时，被强调部分可用that /who来指代；被强调部分指物时，被强调部分后只能用that 指代

It is this house that has a beautiful garden. 就是这个房子有一个美丽的花园。

3)强调部分指时间和地点时，被强调部分只能用that 指代，而不能用when, where 等指代

It was yesterday that I entered the school. 我是昨天进的学校。

2.Prior to that, I was working, self-sufficient, everything was fine.

prior to在…之前

例句：The will was made two days prior to his death.
      遗嘱是在他死亡前两天立的。

      I saw him prior to leaving.
      离开前我见到了他。