Splitting a sentence to emphasise it
A cleft sentence splits one idea into two parts so that one piece of information gets the focus. We use clefts to contrast, correct or highlight something, especially in speech and persuasive writing.
John broke the window.neutral sentence
It wasIt + be
Johnfocus
who broke the window.relative clause
What John brokeWhat-clause
wasbe
the window.focus
It-clefts
Rule
It + be + focus + who / that / which …
- Focus on the subject: It was Maria who won.
- Focus on the object: It was the red car that I wanted.
- Focus on a time or place: It was in 2010 that they met. / It was in Paris that she lived.
- Often used to correct: It wasn’t Tom who told me; it was Anna.
Wh-clefts (pseudo-clefts)
Rule
What / All / The thing / The reason + clause + be + focus
- What I need is a holiday.
- All I want is some peace and quiet.
- The thing that annoys me is the noise.
- The reason (why) I called is that I need your help.
- For actions: What she did was (to) apologise. / What happened was that the car broke down.
Plain
- I need a holiday.
- She apologised.
- The noise annoys me.
With a cleft
- What I need is a holiday.
- What she did was apologise.
- The thing that annoys me is the noise.
Lots of examples
- It was my brother who called the police.Subject in focus.
- It is honesty that matters most in a friend.Abstract noun in focus.
- It was only last week that I found out.Time in focus.
- It wasn’t the price that put me off; it was the service.Contrast.
- What I like about her is her sense of humour.What-cleft.
- What you should do is talk to your manager.Advice.
- All he wants is a quiet life.All-cleft.
- What happened was that the bus broke down.Story.
- The reason I’m late is that my car broke down.The reason.
- What she did was (to) leave without saying a word.Action.
- It is the lack of sleep that makes me irritable.Cause.
- Where I grew up is a small village by the sea.Where-cleft.
Don’t say / Say
Don’t sayIt was John which broke it.
SayIt was John who broke it.Why: Use who for people (or that).
Don’t sayWhat I need are a holiday.
SayWhat I need is a holiday.Why: Be agrees with the focus; singular here.
Don’t sayThe reason is because I was ill.
SayThe reason is that I was ill.Why: Avoid reason … because.
Don’t sayIt was in 2010 when they met.
SayIt was in 2010 that they met.Why: After a time in focus use that.
Don’t sayWhat she did was to apologised.
SayWhat she did was (to) apologise.Why: Base form after was (to).