Simple explanation
What is a cleft sentence? A cleft sentence is a structure that divides one simple idea into two parts so that one piece of information receives extra emphasis. Compare the neutral sentence I met Sarah at the conference with It was Sarah who I met at the conference. The basic event is similar, but the second sentence makes Sarah the main focus. Why do we use cleft sentences? Cleft sentences are useful when one part of a message is more important than the rest. Speakers use them to correct misunderstandings, create contrast, introduce important information, or direct attention to a particular person, time, place, reason, object, or action. It-clefts An it-cleft usually begins with It is or It was. This is followed by the element being emphasized and then a clause introduced by that or who. The focused element can be a person, a time expression, a place, a reason, or another meaningful part of the original sentence. Wh-clefts or pseudo-clefts A wh-cleft usually begins with what, although other wh-words can sometimes appear. The most common pattern is What + clause + be + focused information. In What I need is a break, the first part introduces the topic and the information after is carries the main focus. Emphasizing actions with What ... do When the important information is an action, English often uses What + subject + do or did + be + verb phrase. For example, What she did was call the manager. The first part prepares the listener for an action, and the second part identifies exactly what happened. Reversed wh-clefts A reversed wh-cleft places the focused information first. For example, What I really need is some peace can become Some peace is what I really need. This changes the information flow and can make the first element sound especially prominent. Cleft sentence or normal sentence? Cleft sentences are not replacements for ordinary statements. A neutral sentence is often more natural when no special contrast or emphasis is needed. At B2 level, correct use depends not only on forming the structure accurately but also on using it when there is a genuine communicative reason to highlight something.
Grammar formula
Present it-cleft
It is + focused element + that/who + clauseIt is Emma who handles customer complaints.
Past it-cleft
It was + focused element + that/who + clauseIt was on Monday that we received the results.
Wh-cleft
What + clause + be + focused informationWhat I need is more time.
Wh-cleft for actions
What + subject + do/did + be + base verbWhat he did was cancel the meeting.
Reversed wh-cleft
Focused information + be + what + clauseMore time is what we really need.
Negative it-cleft
It isn't/wasn't + focused element + that/who + clauseIt wasn't Tom who called me.
Question with an it-cleft
Is/Was it + focused element + that/who + clause?Was it Sarah who told you?
Core rules
- 1
Basic it-cleft structure
Use It + be + focused element + that/who + clause. The form of be normally matches the time reference: It is for present situations and It was for past situations.
- 2
Use who for people
When the focused element is a person, who is especially natural: It was Daniel who found the mistake. That is also possible in many contexts, but who is clearer when referring to people.
- 3
Use that for time, place, and other information
For time expressions, places, reasons, and many non-person elements, that is commonly used: It was yesterday that I heard the news.
- 4
Basic wh-cleft structure
Use What + clause + be + focused information to emphasize a need, result, object, idea, or key point: What I need is more time.
- 5
Use statement word order inside wh-clauses
The clause after what follows normal statement order. Say What she wants is a break, not What does she want is a break.
- 6
Emphasize an action with do or did
Use What + subject + do/did + be + base verb or verb phrase: What he did was apologize. In this pattern, the base form of the verb is normally used after be.
- 7
Negative cleft sentences
It-clefts can be negative: It wasn't Peter who made the decision. This structure is particularly useful when correcting incorrect information.
- 8
Questions with it-clefts
It-clefts can also be questions: Was it Anna who sent the message? This form checks whether the focused information is correct.
- 9
Use clefts selectively
A cleft sentence should serve a clear purpose. If there is no contrast, correction, or special focus, a normal sentence will often sound more natural.
Useful examples
It was Julia who suggested the new approach.
Julia was the person who suggested the new approach.
The focus is on Julia rather than on the action itself.
It was last Friday that we finally signed the contract.
Last Friday was the specific time when we finally signed the contract.
The time of the event is being emphasized.
It is the final chapter that I find most difficult.
The final chapter is the part I find especially difficult.
The sentence highlights one particular chapter.
It was at the airport that I realized I had lost my passport.
The airport was the place where I realized my passport was missing.
The location is the main focus.
It was because of the weather that the match was cancelled.
The weather was the reason the match was cancelled.
The structure strongly emphasizes the cause.
What I really need is a few days off.
The thing I really need is a short break from work.
The important information comes after is.
What surprised me most was how calm she remained.
Her calm reaction was the thing that surprised me most.
The second part carries the main new information.
What we should focus on is improving customer service.
Improving customer service should be our main priority.
The wh-cleft highlights the key priority.
What he did was call the police immediately.
The action he took was to call the police straight away.
The What ... did structure emphasizes an action.
What I don't understand is why they changed the plan.
The part I cannot understand is their reason for changing the plan.
The negative form appears naturally inside the wh-clause.
A little more patience is what we need right now.
What we need right now is a little more patience.
This is a reversed wh-cleft.
The way she handled the situation was what impressed me most.
Her handling of the situation impressed me more than anything else.
The focused information appears before the what-clause.
It wasn't John who broke the window; it was his brother.
John did not break the window; his brother did.
The negative it-cleft corrects a mistaken assumption.
Was it Anna who sent you the email?
Are you asking whether Anna was the person who sent the email?
This is an interrogative it-cleft.
What matters most is that everyone is safe.
The most important thing is everyone's safety.
The wh-cleft highlights the central priority.
Common mistakes
- ❌ It was Sarah which called me. ✅ It was Sarah who called me. Who is the natural relative word for a person. Which is normally used for things.
- ❌ It was yesterday when I met him. ✅ It was yesterday that I met him. In a standard it-cleft emphasizing time, that is normally used to introduce the remaining clause.
- ❌ What I need are a new laptop. ✅ What I need is a new laptop. The whole what-clause is usually treated as one unit here, so is is the natural verb form.
- ❌ What did he do was call the manager. ✅ What he did was call the manager. The wh-clause uses statement word order, not question word order.
- ❌ It was in the café where I met her. ✅ It was in the café that I met her. A standard it-cleft normally uses that after the focused place expression.
- ❌ What I want it is more freedom. ✅ What I want is more freedom. The what-clause already functions as the subject, so an extra it is unnecessary.
- ❌ It was Maria who she solved the problem. ✅ It was Maria who solved the problem. Who already functions as the subject of the following clause, so she must not be repeated.
- ❌ What he did was called the manager. ✅ What he did was call the manager. After What he did was, the base form of the verb is normally used.
Learning tips
- First identify exactly what you want to emphasize: a person, time, place, reason, object, or action.
- Use it-clefts when you want to correct or contrast a specific piece of information.
- Use who naturally with people and that commonly with times, places, reasons, and other non-person elements.
- Keep normal statement word order inside wh-clauses.
- Use What someone did was + base verb as a useful pattern for highlighting actions.
- Use reversed wh-clefts when you want the focused information to appear first.
- Do not use cleft sentences simply because they are grammatically possible; they should have a real communicative purpose.
- In speech, sentence stress usually reinforces the grammatical focus created by the cleft structure.
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
Are cleft sentences only used in formal English?
No. Many cleft structures are common in everyday speech, especially patterns such as What I need is ... and It was Sarah who .... More complex versions may sound more formal.
What is the difference between an it-cleft and a wh-cleft?
In an it-cleft, the focused information usually comes directly after It is or It was. In a wh-cleft, the sentence often begins with what, and the main focused information usually appears after be.
Do I always have to use who when emphasizing a person?
No. That can also be used with people in many contexts, but who is often clearer and more natural for learners when the focused element is a person.
Can cleft sentences be negative?
Yes. For example, It wasn't Jack who called me is a natural way to correct a mistaken assumption.
Can a cleft sentence be a question?
Yes. Was it Sarah who told you? is an example of an interrogative it-cleft used to confirm focused information.
Why do we say What he did was call instead of What he did was called?
In this construction, the verb after was normally appears in the base form. Call names the action being emphasized.
Can cleft sentences emphasize reasons?
Yes. For example, It was because of the weather that the match was cancelled clearly emphasizes the reason.
Is it natural to use many cleft sentences in the same text?
Usually not. Too many cleft sentences can make writing sound heavy or overly dramatic. They are most effective when used selectively for real contrast, correction, or emphasis.