Joy English
Joy English

C1 Grammar

C1Cleft sentences20 min

Cleft sentences for emphasis

Use it-clefts and what-clefts to focus on the most important part of a sentence.

A cleft sentence splits one idea into two clauses so that one part receives special attention. The neutral sentence Tariq broke the news can be reshaped to stress who did it, or what happened. Clefts are common in speeches, essays and careful conversation, where they help you steer the listener towards your main point.

TypePatternExample
It-cleftIt + be + focus + that / who clauseIt was Maya who proposed the change.
It-cleft (time, place)It + be + adverbial + that clauseIt was in Lisbon that we first met.
What-cleftWhat + clause + be + focusWhat annoyed me was the lack of any explanation.
All-cleftAll + clause + be + focusAll we need is a little more time.
Reason / thing / placeThe reason / thing + clause + be + focusThe thing that worries me is the schedule.
Reversed what-cleftFocus + be + what clauseA quiet life is what she wants.

In an it-cleft, the focused element can be a person, thing, time or place, and it is followed by that (or who for people). For time expressions, English strongly prefers that: It was not until the third interview that she mentioned the salary. In a what-cleft, what means the thing that, and the verb be joins the two parts. When the focus is a verb phrase, it is usually introduced by to or by a bare infinitive: What I'd like to do is (to) take a year off.

Describing events

To report a sequence of events with suspense, use What happened was (that) ... or What happened next was .... The word that is often dropped in speech but is useful in writing.

  • It is your attitude, not your ability, that concerns me.
  • What happened next was that the funding was withdrawn.
  • What we did was book the tickets before they sold out.
  • It was not Mina's apology but her honesty that impressed us.

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that completes each sentence correctly.

  1. _____ annoyed me was the lack of any explanation.

  2. It was the noise, not the cost, _____ made them move.

  3. What I'd like to do _____ to take a year off.

  4. It was not until the third interview _____ she mentioned the salary.

  5. All we need _____ a little more time.

  6. What happened next was _____ the funding was withdrawn.

  7. Which sentence correctly puts the focus on Maya?

  8. Which sentence puts the focus on the place?

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the sentences

Type one word in each gap to complete the cleft sentence.

  1. I really admire about her is her patience.

  2. It was only after the merger prices began to rise.

  3. What the committee needs a clear timetable.

  4. It Tariq who broke the news to the team yesterday.

  5. It is your attitude, not your ability, concerns me.

  6. What we did to book the tickets before they sold out.

  7. Rather than complain, he did was to offer a solution.

  8. It was not Mina's apology her honesty that impressed us.

0 of 8 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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