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Cleft Sentences

Emphasizing information: It was John who called. What I need is coffee.

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When to Use Cleft Sentences

  • •It-cleft: emphasize subject/object. It was JOHN who called. (not Mary)
  • •It-cleft: emphasize time/place. It was YESTERDAY that I saw her.
  • •What-cleft: emphasize action/thing. What I need is COFFEE.
  • •All-cleft: emphasize everything. All I want is PEACE.
  • •The thing/person/reason: The reason I'm here is TO HELP.

How to Form Cleft Sentences

Affirmative (+)

It + be + emphasized part + who/that + rest. OR What + clause + be + emphasized part

Negative (-)

It wasn't X who/that... What I don't want is...

Question (?)

Was it X who...? What is it that you need?

💡 Who for people; that for things/time/place. What-clefts use singular 'is' even with plural.

Examples of Cleft Sentences

✓It was the noise that woke me up.

✗It was the noise who woke me up.

Use 'that' for things, 'who' for people.

✓What I like is your honesty.

✗What I like are your honesty.

What-clefts use singular verb.

✓It's you who should apologize.

✗It's you that should apologize.

Who preferred for people (that also acceptable).

Common Mistakes with Cleft Sentences

💡 Practice Tips for Cleft Sentences

  • • It-cleft: It + was/is + focus + who/that + rest of sentence.
  • • What-cleft: What + subject + verb + is + focus.
  • • Use to correct misunderstanding or add emphasis.
  • • Common in spoken English for contrast.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.It was the noise   woke me up.
  2. Question 2: Complete the it-cleft: It was John blank called, not Mary.
    2.Complete the it-cleft: It was John called, not Mary.
  3. Question 3: Complete the what-cleft (verb): What I need blank more time.
    3.Complete the what-cleft (verb): What I need more time.
  4. Question 4: Make a what-cleft: 'I want peace.' → blank I want is peace.
    4.Make a what-cleft: 'I want peace.' → I want is peace.
  5. Question 5: Make an it-cleft for time: 'I called yesterday.' → It was yesterday blank I called.
    5.Make an it-cleft for time: 'I called yesterday.' → It was yesterday I called.
  6. Question 6: Make an all-cleft: 'I want peace.' → blank I want is peace.
    6.Make an all-cleft: 'I want peace.' → I want is peace.
  7. Question 7: Fix the relative word: 'The thing blank I want is...' (not 'what')
    7.Fix the relative word: 'The thing I want is...' (not 'what')
  8. Question 8: Make an it-cleft: 'I saw her at the station.' → It was at the station blank I saw her.
    8.Make an it-cleft: 'I saw her at the station.' → It was at the station I saw her.
  9. 9.Choose the correct verb: What I like   your honesty.
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