Cleft Sentences

Rule

Rule

• • It is/was + noun/pronoun + that/who/which + clause. This is the basic pattern, where we split a sentence into two clauses to emphasize a part.
  • What + verb + noun/pronoun + clause. This is another common pattern, used to emphasize the subject or object of a sentence.

Usage

• • To emphasize a particular noun or pronoun: We want to highlight a specific person or thing.
  • To make a sentence more formal or official: This is useful in writing or formal speech.
  • To improve sentence structure: Cleft sentences add variety to our writing and speaking.

Examples

• It was the manager who made the decision.
• What I love is reading books.
• It is the lack of funding that is causing the problem.
• What she said was very interesting.
• It was the new employee who won the award.
• What they need is more practice.

Common Mistakes

• Wrong: It is the man who give us the help. Correct: It was the man who gave us the help.
• Wrong: What I want it a new phone. Correct: What I want is a new phone.
• Wrong: It was the book which I read it. Correct: It was the book that I read.

Tip