Cleft sentences are a powerful grammatical tool used to emphasize a specific part of a sentence. The word "cleft" means "divided," and that is exactly what these structures do — they split a simple sentence into two clauses to draw attention to one particular element. Cleft sentences are widely used in both spoken and written English to highlight new information, correct misunderstandings, or create contrast. Mastering them will make your English sound more natural and persuasive.
How to Form Cleft Sentences
There are two main types: it-clefts and wh-clefts (also called pseudo-clefts).
It-Cleft Structure
An it-cleft begins with "It" + a form of "be" + the emphasized element + a relative clause.
Formula: It + is/was + emphasized element + that/who + rest of the sentence
| Original Sentence | It-Cleft (Emphasizing Different Parts) |
|---|---|
| John broke the window yesterday. | It was John who broke the window yesterday. (emphasis on John) |
| John broke the window yesterday. | It was the window that John broke yesterday. (emphasis on the window) |
| John broke the window yesterday. | It was yesterday that John broke the window. (emphasis on time) |
Wh-Cleft (Pseudo-Cleft) Structure
A wh-cleft starts with a wh-word (usually "what") + clause + "is/was" + the emphasized element.
Formula: What + subject + verb + is/was + emphasized element
| Original Sentence | Wh-Cleft |
|---|---|
| I need more time. | What I need is more time. |
| She loves his honesty. | What she loves is his honesty. |
| The noise bothers me. | What bothers me is the noise. |
Reverse Wh-Cleft
You can also reverse the wh-cleft for variety.
Formula: Emphasized element + is/was + what + subject + verb
More time is what I need. His honesty is what she loves.
When to Use Cleft Sentences
1. To Emphasize the Subject (Who Did It)
When you want to make it clear exactly who performed an action:
It was Maria who organized the entire event, not David. It is the government that must take responsibility.
2. To Emphasize the Object (What Was Affected)
It was the final exam that made her so anxious. What they destroyed was an irreplaceable piece of history.
3. To Emphasize Time or Place
It was in 1969 that humans first walked on the moon. It was at the airport that I realized I had forgotten my passport.
4. To Emphasize a Reason
It was because of the rain that the game was canceled. What caused the delay was a technical malfunction.
5. To Correct a Misunderstanding or Create Contrast
Cleft sentences are extremely useful for correcting wrong assumptions:
A: "Did Tom call you?" B: "No, it was Sarah who called me."
A: "You need a new computer." B: "Actually, what I need is more storage, not a new computer."
6. Using "All" and "The thing" for Emphasis
These informal variations are common in everyday English:
All I want is a quiet evening at home. The thing that surprised me most was her calm reaction. All you need to do is sign this form.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake (Wrong) | Correction (Right) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| It was him which broke the window. | It was him who/that broke the window. | Use "who" or "that" for people, not "which." |
| What I need are more time. | What I need is more time. | The verb agrees with "what," which is typically singular. |
| It is because he is lazy why he failed. | It is because he is lazy that he failed. | Use "that" (not "why") in it-cleft sentences. |
| What do I need is your help. | What I need is your help. | Wh-clefts use statement word order, not question order. |
| It was in Monday that we met. | It was on Monday that we met. | Preposition choice does not change in cleft sentences. |
Practice Examples
- It was the CEO who made the final decision about the merger.
- What impressed me most was her ability to stay calm under pressure.
- It was not until midnight that they finally reached an agreement.
- All we can do now is wait for the test results.
- It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.
- What makes this restaurant special is the fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
- It was during the summer of 2019 that I first visited Japan.
- The reason I called is that I wanted to check on you.
Quick Reference
- It-cleft: It + is/was + emphasized part + that/who + rest of sentence.
- Wh-cleft: What + clause + is/was + emphasized part.
- Use who/that for people and that/which for things in it-clefts.
- Wh-clefts use statement word order (not question order).
- Cleft sentences are ideal for emphasis, contrast, and correcting misunderstandings.
- Informal variations include "All I want is..." and "The thing that... is..."
- The verb after "what" is usually singular ("What I need is...").
Cleft sentences give you precise control over what your listener or reader focuses on. By practicing both it-clefts and wh-clefts, you will develop a more expressive and nuanced command of English.