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English grammar

Beyond it and what: all, the thing and the reason

C1 · Advanced Building the sentence Questions 10

The rule

B2 taught the it-cleft and the what-cleft. C1 widens the family. All replaces what when you mean the only thing: All I want is a quiet evening. Nouns can open a cleft: The thing is…, The reason (why) I called is that…, The place where we met…, The person you need is…, The last thing I need is…. A what-cleft with do focuses an action: What we did was (to) ring every hotel. What happened was (that)… sets up a story. It was not until … that focuses a late time: It was not until midnight that she called. Clefts can be reversed to point back: That’s what I meant, This is where the problem starts. In speech they organise an explanation; in writing they steer the reader to what is new or contrasting. Formal writing prefers the reason is that, not the reason is because.

Pattern

All + clause + is … · The thing / reason / place / person / last thing … is … · What + subject + did was (to) + verb · What happened was … · It was not until … that … · That’s what / This is where …

Examples

  1. All I want is a quiet evening at home.

  2. What we did was ring every hotel in the town.

  3. It was not until the next morning that we noticed the damage.

  4. The reason I am calling is that your order has been delayed.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: All what I need is a coffee.

    Right: All I need is a coffee.

    All replaces what; do not use both.

  • Wrong: The reason is because the train was late.

    Right: The reason is that the train was late.

    Formal English prefers the reason is that.

  • Wrong: It was until midnight that she called.

    Right: It was not until midnight that she called.

    Focusing a late time needs not until.

Practice questions

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

  1. 1Change the sentence.

    Focus on the action with what … do.

    We rang every hotel in town.

    1. What we did was ring every hotel in town.
    2. What we did was we rang every hotel in town.
    3. What did we was ring every hotel in town.
    4. What we rang was every hotel in town did.
    Show answer

    Answer: A What we did was ring every hotel in town.

    What … did was + bare infinitive.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. All I need it is a few more days.
    2. All I need is a few more days.
    3. All that I need are a few more days is.
    4. All what I need is a few more days.
    Show answer

    Answer: B All I need is a few more days.

    All + clause + is: the only thing.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence means the same?

    The last thing I need right now is another meeting.

    1. The last meeting was the one I needed.
    2. I really do not want another meeting now.
    3. Another meeting is the final thing on my list.
    4. I need one more meeting before I leave.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I really do not want another meeting now.

    The last thing I need = something I really do not want.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    It was not _____ I read the letter again that I understood it.

    1. until
    2. before
    3. since
    4. after
    Show answer

    Answer: A It was not until I read the letter again that I understood it.

    It was not until … that: the understanding came late.

  5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    The reason I left is because the pay was terrible.

    1. The reason I left is why the pay was terrible.
    2. The reason I left is that the pay was terrible.
    3. The reason why I left is for the pay was terrible.
    4. The reason I left was the pay which was terrible it.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The reason I left is that the pay was terrible.

    Formal: the reason … is that.

  6. 6Put the words in the right order.

    What happened was that the server crashed

    Show answer

    Answer: What happened was that the server crashed.

    What happened was sets up the explanation.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    What is the speaker emphasising?

    It was Sarah, not Tom, who organised the party.

    1. Where the party was held
    2. When the party took place
    3. Why the party was organised
    4. Who organised the party
    Show answer

    Answer: D Who organised the party

    The it-cleft puts the person in focus.

  8. 8Change the sentence.

    Focus on the time.

    She only called after midnight.

    1. It was after midnight not until she called.
    2. It was not until after midnight that she called.
    3. It was not until midnight she called that.
    4. It was only midnight that she called after.
    Show answer

    Answer: B It was not until after midnight that she called.

    It was not until … that + clause.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Thing is it, I’ve already promised to help my sister.
    2. The thing is, I’ve already promised to help my sister.
    3. The thing it is, I’ve already promised to help my sister.
    4. The thing is that, I’ve already promised to help my sister is.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The thing is, I’ve already promised to help my sister.

    The thing is introduces the real problem in speech.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    You are explaining a problem to your manager.

    _____ worries me is the lack of time for testing.

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

    Answer: D What worries me is the lack of time for testing.

    A what-cleft: What + clause + is …

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