Cleft Sentences (B2)

Cleft sentences are complex sentences that are used to emphasize one particular part of a sentence. They are particularly useful in writing where we cannot use intonation for emphasis, but they are also frequently used in speech.

Types of Cleft Sentences

​The reason why, the thing that, the person/people who, the place where, the day when…

We can focus on an element of the sentence by using these structures with a relative clause. We use the relative pronouns in the same way we use them in any relative clause.

Types of Cleft Sentences

​It + be + phrase + relative clause

Instead of the person who, the thing that, etc. we can also use an introductory it, the verb be in any verb tense that we may need, and the element that we want to focus on.

We can use who/which or that after a noun phrase, e.g. Sheila, the book, etc.  But we should use that after adverbial phrases, e.g. under the mattress, on Monday, etc. 

Note that we can also use when after noun phrases, but not after adverbial phrases. Compare:

It’s Monday when I have to call. 

It’s on Monday that I have to call.

Types of Cleft Sentences

The thing/s that = What/All

We can also use what or all (more emphasis) instead of the thing/s that to focus on an element of the sentence.

Types of Cleft Sentences

What + subject + do/does/did/ + is/was + (to) infinitive

We use this structure when we want to focus on the verb or verb phrase. In these structures, we can use an infinitive with or without to.

Types of Cleft Sentences

What happens is (that) … / What happened was (that)

We use this structure when we want to focus on a whole sentence, and not only on an element in the sentence.

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Multiple Choice

Complete the following sentence:
_________ is a good night's sleep.

• She is.

• What I need.

• it was

• The book.

Multiple Choice

______________ about the place is the weather.

• that I don't like

• the reason I don't like

• What I don't like

• I don't like

Multiple Choice

The most challenging part ______________.

• will the final exam be.

• the final exam was.

• the final exam is.

• is the final exam

Multiple Choice

________who lent him the money.

• it was Mary

• Mary

• Mary it was

• can be Mary

Multiple Choice

What we did is _____ a letter to apologize.

• write

• wrote

• writes

• writing

Multiple Choice

The reason why he left ______ the embarrassment.

• was to avoid

• is to avoid

• will be to avoid

• were to avoid

Multiple Choice

__________ that I realized she was leaving me.

• it is when I read the email

• as soon as I read the email

• It was when I read the email

• it were when i read the email

Multiple Choice

______ lent you the money, remember?

• It's me who

• It should be me who

• It was me

• I wasn't me who

Multiple Choice

______ fame and money, among other things.

• What I needed

• I should have

• I need is

• What I want is

Multiple Choice

It's where they are hiding ____ we want to find out.

• where

• what

• that

• so