CEFR B2

    Cleft Sentences

    Use it-cleft and what-cleft structures to emphasise specific parts of a sentence. Practice highlighting key information with sophisticated sentence patterns in everyday English.

    Learning Objectives

    Understand how to use cleft sentences to emphasize specific parts of a sentence.
    Master different types of cleft structures: It-cleft, Wh-cleft, and All-cleft sentences.
    Use cleft sentences appropriately in formal and informal contexts to improve clarity and impact.
    Finish the lesson by confidently using cleft sentences in academic writing and professional communication!

    What Are Cleft Sentences?

    Cleft sentences are used to give emphasis or focus to a particular part of a sentence. They help us highlight information by splitting a simple sentence into two clauses, making your English sound more sophisticated and precise.

    Basic Structure

    It + be + focused element + that/who + clause

    ✓ It was John who broke the window. (emphasizes John)

    ✓ It is because of the rain that the match was cancelled. (emphasizes the reason)

    Common Types of Cleft Sentences

    1. It-Cleft Sentences

    These are the most common type. They start with 'It is/was…' followed by the emphasized element.

    • Example: 'It was yesterday that I saw her.' (emphasizes the time)
    • Example: 'It is the blue car that I want to buy.' (emphasizes the object)

    2. Wh-Cleft (Pseudo-Cleft) Sentences

    These use a 'wh-' word (what, where, why, etc.) to create focus and are more common in spoken English.

    • Example: 'What I need is a good night's sleep.' (emphasizes the need)
    • Example: 'What surprised everyone was his sudden resignation.' (emphasizes the surprise)

    3. All-Cleft Sentences

    These begin with 'All…' to emphasize the entirety of something or express strong feelings.

    • Example: 'All I want is peace and quiet.' (emphasizes the simplicity of desire)
    • Example: 'All you need to do is call the office.' (emphasizes the ease of action)

    4. Other Common Variations

    These include 'The thing that…', 'The reason why…', and 'The place where…' structures.

    • Example: 'The reason why I called is to thank you.' (emphasizes purpose)
    • Example: 'The person who helped me was my teacher.' (emphasizes identity)

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ Wrong: Incorrect structure - 'It was went to Paris that she did.'

    ✓ Correct: 'It was to Paris that she went.' (use correct verb placement)

    ❌ Wrong: Overusing cleft sentences - making every sentence emphatic

    ✓ Correct: Use cleft sentences selectively for true emphasis, not in every sentence

    ❌ Wrong: Mixing structures - 'What I need it is more time.'

    ✓ Correct: 'What I need is more time.' (remove unnecessary 'it')

    ❌ Wrong: Wrong relative pronoun - 'It was the book what I wanted.'

    ✓ Correct: 'It was the book that I wanted.' (use 'that' or 'which', not 'what')

    Learning Tips

    • Use cleft sentences when you want to clearly highlight one part of a statement for emphasis
    • It-clefts are more formal and common in writing, while Wh-clefts are more natural in spoken English
    • Avoid overusing cleft sentences - they lose their impact if used too frequently
    • Practice by taking simple sentences and transforming them into cleft structures to emphasize different elements
    • Read academic papers and formal documents to see how cleft sentences are used in professional contexts
    • Remember that the emphasized element should be the new or important information in the sentence

    Speaking Practice:

    To practice your pronunciation, listen to the native speaker audio first. Then 'Record' yourself repeating what you heard, then use the 'Playback' button to compare your pronunciation with the native speaker. If you want to record yourself again, simply click 'Delete'!

    ✓ It was Mary who told me the news. (emphasizing the person)

    ✓ What I enjoy most is spending time with family. (emphasizing the activity)

    ✓ The reason I'm calling is to confirm your reservation. (emphasizing the purpose)

    ✓ It was in London that they first met. (emphasizing the location)

    ✓ What surprised me was how quickly he adapted. (emphasizing the surprise)

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