Cleft sentences (from the Old English word for 'split') divide a simple sentence into two clauses to emphasise a particular element. They are used in formal and academic English to highlight information, create contrast, or add dramatic effect.
💡 Simple sentence: John broke the vase.
🎯 It-cleft: It was John who broke the vase. (focus on WHO)
🎯 Wh-cleft: What John did was break the vase. (focus on ACTION)
💡 Cleft sentences are a hallmark of advanced English. They are common in essays, speeches, and formal writing.
📘 2. It-Clefts (It was...that/who)
Structure: It + be + emphasised element + that/who + rest of sentence
Emphasising the subject:
It was John who solved the problem.
It is the manager that makes the final decision.
Emphasising the object:
It was the car that he wanted to buy.
It is chocolate that she loves most.
Emphasising adverbials (time, place, manner):
It was in Paris that they first met.
It was yesterday when I received the news.
It was with great difficulty that he completed the task.
💡 Use 'who' for people, 'that' for things and sometimes people. 'Which' is rarely used in cleft sentences.
📗 3. Wh-Clefts (What...is/was)
Structure: What/Where/Why/How + clause + be + emphasised element
Emphasising an action or event:
What he did was apologise immediately.
What she wants is a new job.
Emphasising a reason:
Why he left is a mystery.
Why she succeeded is her determination.
Emphasising a place or method:
Where we met was at the conference.
How they solved the problem was innovative.
💡 Wh-clefts often put the focus at the end of the sentence, which is naturally emphatic. The verb after 'what' is usually singular even if the complement is plural (e.g., 'What we need is more volunteers').
📙 4. All-Clefts (All...is/was)
Structure: All + clause + be + emphasised element (often reduced to minimal focus)
All I want is a little peace and quiet.
All you need is love.
All he did was complain about everything.
All she could see was darkness.
All that matters is that you're safe.
💡 'All-clefts' are a subtype of wh-cleft where the wh-word is 'all'. They emphasise the minimal or complete nature of the subject.
🔹 5. Other Cleft Structures
The reason why...is:
The reason why he quit is that he was unhappy.
The thing that...is:
The thing that surprised me most was her calmness.
The person who...is:
The person who called you was my assistant.
The place where...is:
The place where we first met is still there.
🎯 6. Using Cleft Sentences for Emphasis
Cleft sentences are particularly useful in these contexts:
Contrast / Correction:
"It wasn't Peter who took the money; it was Paul."
Highlighting importance:
"What really matters is your health."
Introducing new information:
"It was only yesterday that I found out the truth."
Adding drama or suspense:
"What she saw next terrified her."
⚠️ 7. Common Mistakes
❌ It was me who broke the vase. (informal, but grammatically debated – use 'I' in formal writing)
✅ It was I who broke the vase. (formal)
❌ What he did was he apologised.
✅ What he did was apologise. (bare infinitive after 'be' in wh-clefts)
❌ It was in 1990 when she was born.
✅ It was in 1990 that she was born. (prefer 'that' over 'when' in it-clefts with time)
❌ All what I want is rest.
✅ All I want is rest. (no 'what' after 'all')
📊 8. Comparison: It-clefts vs Wh-clefts
Feature
It-clefts
Wh-clefts
Structure
It + be + focus + that/who...
What/Why/Where/How + clause + be + focus
Focus position
Early (right after 'It was')
Late (end of sentence)
Typical use
Contrast, identifying
Summarising, defining
Example
It was the blue car that I wanted.
What I wanted was the blue car.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.What is the difference between an it-cleft and a wh-cleft?▼
It-clefts (It was X that Y) emphasise a specific element by putting it after 'It was'. Wh-clefts (What Y is X) put the emphasised element at the end, often for dramatic effect. Example: It-cleft: 'It was John who broke the vase.' Wh-cleft: 'What John did was break the vase.'
Q2.When should I use cleft sentences?▼
Use cleft sentences when you want to add emphasis, contrast, or focus on a particular piece of information. They are common in formal writing, academic English, and for stylistic effect in speech. Avoid overusing them in casual conversation.
Q3.Can I use cleft sentences with all verb tenses?▼
Yes. The verb in the cleft structure can be in present, past, future, or perfect tenses: 'It is Mary who helps me.' / 'It was Mary who helped me.' / 'It will be Mary who helps me.' / 'It has been Mary who has helped me.'