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English grammar

Cleft sentences: putting one part in the spotlight

B2 · Upper intermediate Building the sentence Questions 10

The rule

A cleft sentence splits one idea into two clauses so that one part is emphasised. The it-cleft picks out a noun: It was the survey that changed our minds — not the price, the survey. The what-cleft picks out the whole action or the point: What worries me is the timing. There are relatives too: All I want is a written answer. The reason we withdrew was the damp. The thing to remember is that the clock starts on the letter date. This is how spoken English does in word order what other languages do with stress.

Pattern

It is / was + X + that / who + … · What + clause + is / was + X · All (that) + clause + is + X · The reason … is that …

Examples

  1. It was the second letter that finally got a reply.

  2. What I object to is being told at five o’clock.

  3. All we are asking for is a date.

  4. The reason nobody complained is that nobody knew.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: It was the survey which changed our minds it.

    Right: It was the survey that changed our minds.

    The cleft already contains the object; no extra pronoun.

  • Wrong: What I want is to get a written answer is.

    Right: What I want is a written answer.

    One is joins the two halves, not two.

  • Wrong: The reason is because nobody knew.

    Right: The reason is that nobody knew.

    The reason is takes that, not because.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. That was the damp which made us withdraw it.
    2. It was the damp what made us withdraw.
    3. It was the damp that made us withdraw.
    4. It was the damp made us withdraw.
    Show answer

    Answer: C It was the damp that made us withdraw.

    The it-cleft uses that or which.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. What surprised me it was how quickly they replied.
    2. What surprised me was how quickly they replied.
    3. What surprised me was how quickly did they reply.
    4. That surprised me was how quickly they replied.
    Show answer

    Answer: B What surprised me was how quickly they replied.

    The what-cleft has one subject and one verb each side.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. All what I need is the reference number.
    2. All I need it is the reference number.
    3. All I need is the reference number.
    4. All that I need is it the reference number.
    Show answer

    Answer: C All I need is the reference number.

    All (that) I need needs no extra pronoun.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    _____ was the timing, not the cost, that worried us.

    1. What
    2. That
    3. It
    4. There
    Show answer

    Answer: C It was the timing, not the cost, that worried us.

    The it-cleft begins with It.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    _____ we need is somebody who can decide.

    1. It
    2. That
    3. What
    4. Which
    Show answer

    Answer: C What we need is somebody who can decide.

    The what-cleft begins with What.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    The reason we pulled out _____ the survey.

    1. is because
    2. that was
    3. was
    4. because was
    Show answer

    Answer: C The reason we pulled out was the survey.

    The reason … was plus a noun phrase.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    It was not until the third visit _____ anybody looked at the roof.

    1. when
    2. then
    3. that
    4. which
    Show answer

    Answer: C It was not until the third visit that anybody looked at the roof.

    It was not until … that is the fixed frame.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    _____ happened next is in the second report.

    1. That
    2. Which
    3. What
    4. It
    Show answer

    Answer: C What happened next is in the second report.

    What happened heads the clause.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. It was the agent who sent the letter.
    2. The agent was the one who sent the letter.
    3. It was the agent who he sent the letter.
    4. It was the agent that sent the letter.
    Show answer

    Answer: C It was the agent who he sent the letter.

    The cleft already supplies the subject.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I do not understand why they waited.
    2. What I do not understand is why did they wait.
    3. What I do not understand is why they waited.
    4. What puzzles me is why they waited.
    Show answer

    Answer: B What I do not understand is why did they wait.

    The embedded question loses its inversion.

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