LoginCleft Sentences
In this lesson we learn about cleft sentences, which are essential sentence structures that use two clauses to emphasize a specific part of a sentence. Clear explanations and practice exercises to help you learn.
What Are Cleft Sentences?
A cleft sentence is a complex sentence that emphasizes an element by rearranging the normal word order of a simple sentence with the help of a dummy word, such as 'it' or 'there'. This rearrangement allows for emphasis on a specific part of the sentence.
Why Do We Use Cleft Sentences?
Cleft sentences are commonly used in spoken English to connect the part of a message that is already known to the part that presents new information. Cleft sentences allow the speaker to emphasize the part of the message that they want to draw attention to. Here are some examples:
I called you Monday. → It was Monday that/when I called you.
I want a cup of coffee right now. → What I want right now is a cup of coffee.
Cleft Sentences: Types
There are different types of cleft sentences in the English language. Here are some of the most common ones:
It-cleft
Wh-cleft (Pseudo-cleft)
All-cleft
There-cleft
If-because cleft
It-cleft Sentences
The most common type of cleft sentence is it-cleft sentence. The information that comes in the 'it-clause' is the focus of the sentence. A relative clause follows the it-clause and contains information that is already known. For example:
Jane's car got stolen last night. → It was Jane's car that got stolen last night.
"that got stolen last night" is a relative clause that follows the it-clause.
Tom saw me yesterday. → It was me that Tom saw yesterday.
My boss sent me home today. → It was my boss who sent me home today.
Tip!
When the relative clause describes the object of the original sentence, the relative pronoun or adverb can be omitted from the cleft sentence. For example:
You spoke to my father on the phone. → It was my father (who/that) you spoke to on the phone.
Here, "my father" is the object of the original sentence, so "who/that" can be omitted from the cleft sentence.
My father sent me back to Canada. → It was my father who sent me back to Canada.
In this sentence, "my father" is the subject of the original sentence, so "who" cannot be omitted from the cleft setnence.
Plural Subject in It-cleft
When the sentence has a plural subject, 'it + be' remains the same and only the main verb is plural. Take a look at these examples:
The boys won the cup. → It was the boys who won the cup.
Here, the speaker wants to emphasize that 'the boys' won the cup, not the girls or some other group.
The grandparents were cheering the most. → It was the grandparents who were cheering the most.
Question Structure
The it-cleft sentences can also take the form of questions in informal speech and writing. Take a look at some examples down below:
Did the girls scream last night? → Was it the girls who screamed last night?
Did Tom open the box? → Was it Tom who opened the box?
Negative Structure
The 'it-clause' can also be negative. Remember that when turning the it-clause negative, the second clause must be positive. Here are some examples:
My dad's car got stolen; not mine → It wasn't my car that got stolen; it was my dad's.
You have met my friend; not my brother. → It wasn't my brother (that) you have met; it was my friend.
Tip!
We can use other pronouns instead of 'it', such as 'that' or 'those'. Take a look at the examples:
You broke my glass → That was you who broke my glass.
You borrowed my books → Those were my books that you borrowed.
Inferential Cleft Sentences
An inferential cleft sentence is a type of 'it-cleft sentence' that clarifies what others may wrongly assume. These sentences typically start with 'it' followed by the verb 'be', and consist of two consecutive 'it-that' clauses. The first clause is negative, while the second clause is positive and provides clarification. Adverbs such as 'only' or 'just' may be included in an inferential cleft sentence. Here are some examples:
I love her. I just show my love in a different way. → It is not that I don't love her. It's just that I show my love in a different way.
I am trying to help you. I only want you to learn. → It's not that I'm not trying to help you. It's only that I want you to learn.
Wh-cleft Sentences
Generally, wh-cleft sentences (also called pseudo-cleft) begin with 'what', or occasionally other relative pronouns and adverbs, which form a nominal relative clause that acts as the subject of the cleft sentence. Usually, the wh-clause contains given information, while the following clause contains new information. For example:
I want some peace and quiet. → What I want is some peace and quiet.
As you can see, new information is presented after the "be" verb and is in focus.
You need to rest for a while. → What you need to do is rest for a while.
John wants a good job. → What John wants is a good job.
Warning
Other relative pronouns and adverbs such as why, where, how, etc. can also form wh-cleft setnences. However, their use is not as common as 'what' and the resulting sentence may sound strange. Here are some examples:
I want to go to a place far away from here. → Where I want to go is a place far away from here.
She paid for her food with her credit card. → How she paid for her food was with her credit card.
Reversed Wh-cleft Sentences
Reversed wh-cleft sentence (also called Inverted pseudo-cleft) is a type of wh-cleft sentence in which the nominal relative clause comes after the "be" verb. For example:
I want some peace and quiet. → Some peace and quiet is what I want.
I want to go to a place far away from here. → A place far away from here is where I want to go.
The lion chased the giraffe. → Chasing the giraffe is what the lion did.
All-cleft Sentences
All-cleft sentences emphasize the object of the verb. We can form questions from all-cleft sentences, but negative sentences are not very common. Take a look at some examples:
Jimmy wants a brand new bicycle for Christmas. → All Jimmy wants for Christmas is a brand new bicycle.
Here, 'a brand new bicycle' is the focus.
She complains about everything. → All she does is complain about everything.
All she wanted was a good job. → Was all she wanted a good job?
There-cleft Sentences
There-cleft sentences function similarly to 'it-cleft' sentences. They emphasize the existence of something. The subject of these sentences is the dummy pronoun "there" which is typically followed by the main verb be, and sometimes other verbs like 'come', 'exist', and 'remain'. Like "it-cleft" sentences, a relative clause follows the there-clause. For example:
I'm trying to adopt this orphan kid. → There's this orphan kid (that) I'm trying to adopt.
Camille wanted to buy this new car. → There's this new car (that) Camille wanted to buy.
Someday you have to give up everything in life. → There comes a day in life that you have to give up everything.
As you can see, 'there' can be followed by an intransitive verb such as come.
If-because Cleft Sentences
If-because cleft sentences function similarly to inferential cleft sentences. This type of cleft sentence allows the speaker to emphasize the reason for an action. For example:
He wants to be a millionaire to help poor children. → If he wants to be a millionaire, it's because he wants to help poor children.
It seems that she is meddling because she's trying to help the family. → If it seems that she is meddling, it's just because she's trying to help the family.
As you can see, we can use 'just' to emphasize more.
Warning
If-because cleft sentences contain the conjunction 'if' which is normally associated with conditionals; however, they are not conditional sentences.
Review
A cleft-sentence is usually a simple sentence that has turned into a complex sentence to emphasize a particular piece of information. It is usually formed using a dummy subject such as it or that.
There are several types of cleft-sentences in English:
It-cleft
It was John who broke his nose.
Wh-cleft
What he did was call the police.
All-cleft
All he wants is to live alone far from his family.
It's not that I don't like him, it is just his manner that is not appropriate.
There-cleft sentences
There is a teacher whose exams are making me nervous.
If-because cleft sentences
If I tolerate your nagging cat, it is just because I enjoy living with you.
Quiz:
Which of the following is a key characteristic of cleft sentences?
They always begin with "What" or "All."
They rearrange a simple sentence to emphasize a specific part.
They can only be used in formal writing.
They must always contain a relative clause.
Which of the following sentences correctly represents the question form of an it-cleft sentence?
Was it you who finished the report?
Who finished the report?
It was you who finished the report, wasn't it?
What did you finish?
Match each sentence with the correct ending to form a cleft sentence.
Sort the words to form a reversed wh-cleft sentence.
Fill the blanks to turn each sentence to a cleft sentence.
Lily discovered the hidden waterfall. →
who discovered the hidden waterfall.
They need a vacation right now. →
right now is a vacation.
He misses the bus because he oversleeps. →
the bus,
he oversleeps.
He just wants to find true happiness. →
is to find true happiness.
Comments
(22)In this sentence, the infinitive marker "to" is unnecessary because the verb "rest" is an infinitive verb that can stand alone. Therefore, using the infinitive marker "to" is optional, and omitting it is considered more concise and natural in modern English.
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You should not use a past verb in this sentence. We corrected it. Thanks for the feedback
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