Cleft Sentences

Mastering Cleft Sentences: How to Add Emphasis and Style to Your English

Have you ever wanted to emphasise a single phrase element to attract attention, create a contrast, or sound more polished and sophisticated? That’s where cleft sentences come in! They are not just fancy grammar—they are a brilliant way to focus on what really matters in your message. And yes, native speakers use them all the time—often without even realising it!

If you’re preparing for the Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced, or just looking to level up your spoken and written English, learning how to use cleft structures will help you sound clearer, more natural, and more advanced.

In this post, we will explore different types of cleft sentences—like it-clefts, what-clefts, and more—with loads of examples to help you understand how and when to use them. You will also find tips for using them in exams, conversations, and writing.

What are cleft sentences?

A cleft sentence is a unique sentence form that divides a sentence into two clauses to highlight a certain section of the sentence. The word cleft literally means “split” or “divided,” which reflects how the sentence is broken up.

Ordinary sentence:

• Leah passed the exam.

Cleft sentence (emphasising Leah):

• It was Leah who passed the exam.

The meaning stays the same, but the focus shifts. This is incredibly useful when you want to highlight information, clarify something, or add dramatic flair to your writing or speech.

Why should I use cleft sentences?

We normally use cleft sentences to emphasise a specific part of the sentence, to clarify who or what did something, to sound more natural and fluent in advanced communication and above all to vary sentence structure in writing and speaking.

Types of cleft sentences

Here are the main types, each with clear explanations and examples.

It-cleft sentences

This is the most common type.

Structure:

It is/was + [emphasised element] + that/who + [rest of the sentence]

It is used to emphasise subjects, objects, adverbs, time, place.

• It was John who broke the window. (not someone else)
• It is freedom that she values most.
• It was in 2010 that they moved to London.
• It’s on Friday that the concert will take place.
• It was in the library that I found the missing book.

This form is both flexible and elegant, and it frequently appears in formal speech and writing.

What-cleft sentences

Structure:

What + [clause] + be + [emphasised information]

These focus on actions or ideas, not just people or things.

• What I need is a good night’s sleep.
• What made her angry was his attitude.
• What she loves most is teaching.
• What surprised me was how polite they were.
• What they’re doing is trying to avoid responsibility.

You can often use this structure when you want to start a sentence smoothly in writing.

All-cleft sentences

Structure:

All (that) + clause + be + emphasised information

• All I want is some peace and quiet.
• All they did was complain.
• All she ever talks about is her job.

Often used when expressing frustration or a strong emotional response.

Wh-clefts with where, when, why, how

These are variations of what-clefts.

• Where he hid the money was under the floorboards.
• When I realised the truth was too late.
• Why she left is still a mystery.
• How he got the job was through a family connection.

These are less common but useful for storytelling, reports, and structured writing.

Pseudo-clefts (reverse what-clefts)

Structure:

[Emphasised element] + is/was + what…

This is essentially the reverse of a What-cleft.

• A good rest is what I need.
• Patience is what helped him succeed.
• Getting accepted into the programme is what made her cry with joy.

They are useful for conclusion sentences in essays or reflections. In spoken English, cleft sentences add natural emphasis and rhythm.

“It was you who forgot, not me!”

In written English, they add variety, especially in essays, reports, and narrative writing.

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Cleft sentences

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