Cleft sentences

Original: The cat chased the mouse.

• What was the cat that chased the mouse.
• It was the cat that chased the mouse.
• When was the cat that chased the mouse.
• Where was the cat that chased the mouse.

Answer explanation

This 'It-cleft' correctly emphasizes "the cat" as the subject.

Original: She needs a new phone.

• When she needs is a new phone.
• Where she needs is a new phone.
• What she needs is a new phone.
• Who she needs is a new phone.

Answer explanation

This 'Wh-cleft' (pseudo-cleft) correctly uses "What" to emphasize "a new phone".

Original: They will travel to Paris next month.

• It is next month when they will travel to Paris.
• What is next month when they will travel to Paris.
• Where is next month when they will travel to Paris.
• Who is next month when they will travel to Paris.

Answer explanation

This 'It-cleft' correctly emphasizes "next month" as the time adverbial.

Original: He wants to understand the reason.

• Where he wants to understand is the reason.
• When he wants to understand is the reason.
• What he wants to understand is the reason.
• Who he wants to understand is the reason.

Answer explanation

This 'Wh-cleft' correctly uses "What" to emphasize "the reason".

Original: The meeting is in the conference room.

• It is in the conference room where the meeting is.
• What is in the conference room where the meeting is.
• When is in the conference room where the meeting is.
• Who is in the conference room where the meeting is.

Answer explanation

This 'It-cleft' correctly emphasizes "in the conference room" as the place adverbial.

Original: I value honesty the most.

• When I value the most is honesty.
• What I value the most is honesty.
• Where I value the most is honesty.
• Who I value the most is honesty.

Answer explanation

This 'Wh-cleft' correctly uses "What" to emphasize "honesty".

Original: The key was hidden under the mat.

• What was under the mat that the key was hidden.
• It was under the mat where the key was hidden.
• When was under the mat where the key was hidden.
• Who was under the mat where the key was hidden.

Answer explanation

This 'It-cleft' correctly emphasizes "under the mat" as the location.

Original: She called him yesterday.

• It was yesterday when she called him.
• What was yesterday when she called him.
• Where was yesterday when she called him.
• Who was yesterday when she called him.

Answer explanation

This 'It-cleft' correctly emphasizes "yesterday" as the time.

Original: The children are playing in the garden.

• When are the children who are playing in the garden.
• It is the children who are playing in the garden.
• What are the children who are playing in the garden.
• Where are the children who are playing in the garden.

Answer explanation

This 'It-cleft' correctly emphasizes "the children".

Original: He solved the puzzle with great skill.

• What he solved the puzzle was with great skill.
• How he solved the puzzle was with great skill.
• When he solved the puzzle was with great skill.
• Where he solved the puzzle was with great skill.

Answer explanation

This 'Wh-cleft' correctly uses "How" to emphasize the manner "with great skill".