Cleft sentences split one idea into two parts to emphasise one piece of information. The most common patterns are It is/was … that/who … and What … is/was …. They are useful in speech, in essays and in exam writing to show contrast or focus.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| It is/was + focus + that / who + clause | It was John who broke the window. |
| What + clause + is/was + focus | What I need is a holiday. |
| The thing/reason/place + that… | The reason I called is to say thanks. |
When to use it
- Emphasising a person: It was my sister who suggested it.
- Emphasising a place or time: It was in Rome that we met.
- Emphasising an object: What I want is a quiet evening.
- Correcting information: It wasn't Tom, it was Paul who called.
Examples
- It was Tom who called me.
- It is in May that the festival takes place.
- What I need is a long holiday.
- It wasn't the price that bothered me.
- What surprised me was her honesty.
- The person I want to thank is my teacher.
Common mistakes
- Using “which” for people: It was Anna which called → It was Anna who called.
- A wrong verb form after what: What I need are time → What I need is time.
- Overusing the pattern: use it for emphasis, not in every sentence.