Cleft Sentences

C1 · AdvancedAdvanced Grammar

It was John who broke the vase. What I need is a coffee.

What you'll learn

  • A cleft sentence splits one idea into two clauses to focus attention on a single element
  • It-clefts: 'It was/is + focused element + that/who...'
  • Wh-clefts (pseudo-clefts): 'What + clause + is/was + focused element'
  • 'All' can replace 'what' for a wh-cleft meaning 'the only thing'

Why split a sentence in two?

A cleft sentence takes information that could be expressed in one plain sentence and splits it into two clauses instead, in order to sharply focus attention on a single element — often to correct, contrast, or emphasize it.

"Plain: John broke the vase."
"Cleft: It was John who broke the vase. (not someone else)"

It-clefts

An it-cleft starts with 'It was/is', followed by the focused element, then 'that' (or 'who' for a person). Almost any element of the sentence — subject, object, time, place — can be focused this way.

"It was John who broke the vase."
"It was yesterday that I lost my keys."
"It was in Paris that we met."

Wh-clefts (pseudo-clefts)

A wh-cleft starts with a wh-word (usually 'what'), followed by a clause, then 'is/was', then the focused element. 'All' can replace 'what' to mean 'the only thing'.

"What I need is a coffee."
"What surprised me was this."
"All I want is peace and quiet."

Real English

"It's not money that can buy happiness."
"What bothers me is his attitude."
"It wasn't me who said that."
"What will make you improve is practice."

Watch out

✗Was John who broke the vase.
✓It was John who broke the vase.

An it-cleft always needs the introductory 'it' — it can't be dropped even though it doesn't refer to anything specific.

✗What I need it is a coffee.
✓What I need is a coffee.

A wh-cleft doesn't repeat the subject with an extra 'it' before 'is/was' — the wh-clause itself is the subject.

✗It's not money what can buy happiness.
✓It's not money that can buy happiness.

An it-cleft uses 'that' (or 'who' for people), not 'what'.

Real life — Clearing up a misunderstanding

"I heard you were annoyed with Sam."

"No, it wasn't Sam I was annoyed with — it was his manager."

"Oh! What happened exactly?"

"What happened is he cancelled the meeting twice without telling anyone."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct it-cleft

Choose the correct it-cleft for: 'John broke the vase (not Mary).'

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct it-cleft

Choose the correct it-cleft for: 'I lost my keys yesterday (not today).'

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct wh-cleft

Choose the correct wh-cleft for: 'I need a coffee (more than anything else).'

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct wh-cleft

Choose the correct wh-cleft for: 'This surprised me (more than anything).'

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct it-cleft

Choose the correct it-cleft for: 'Money can't buy happiness.'

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct all-cleft

Choose the correct all-cleft for: 'I just want peace and quiet (nothing more).'

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct it-cleft

Choose the correct it-cleft focusing on the place: 'We met in Paris.'

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct wh-cleft

Choose the correct wh-cleft for: 'She wants to travel (that's her main goal).'

Exercise 9 · Make an it-cleft

Make an it-cleft focusing on the underlined word: 'TOM called, not his brother.' → It was ___.

Exercise 10 · Make a wh-cleft

Make a wh-cleft: 'I really need some rest.' → What ___.

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

It was John who called.
What I need is time.
Was John who called.
What I need it is time.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct it-cleft for: 'She apologized, not just explained.'

You learned

  • Cleft sentences split one idea into two clauses to focus one element.
  • It-clefts: 'It was/is + focused element + that/who...'.
  • Wh-clefts: 'What + clause + is/was + focused element'.
  • 'All' can replace 'what' for a wh-cleft meaning 'the only thing'.

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