If you feel that your sentences are boring and lacking in emphasis, cleft sentences are a popular form of emphatic sentence that helps you improve your ability to express yourself in different communication contexts. So what exactly are cleft sentences? What are the functions and structures of cleft sentences in English? Let's explore with IDP IELTS in this article!
1. What Is a Cleft Sentence?
A cleft sentence is a structure used to highlight a specific part of a sentence—subject, object, adverbial, or focus point.
Examples:
It is Mary who always comes late.
It is a book that I want to read.
It was yesterday that I met her.
2. Why Use Cleft Sentences?
Cleft sentences emphasize a particular element, making key information stand out in both speech and writing.
Original: I like coffee.
Emphasised cleft: It is coffee that I like.
3. Common Cleft Sentence Structures
3.1 Emphasising the Subject
Structure:
bashCopyEditIt + be + Subject + who/that + Verb
Example:
It is Mary who always comes late.
3.2 Emphasising the Object
Structure (person):
bashCopyEditIt + be + object (person) + whom/that + Subject + Verb
Structure (thing):
csharpCopyEditIt + be + object + that + Subject + Verb
Examples:
It was John that she gave the book to.
It was my phone that I lost.
3.3 Emphasising Adverbial Phrases
Structure:
cssCopyEditIt + be + Adverbial + that + Subject + Verb + Object
Example:
It was in the park that I lost my keys.
4. Other Cleft Forms
4.1 Wh– Inversion
Standard cleft: What Jade has always wanted is a new phone.
Inverted cleft: A new phone is what Jade has always wanted.
4.2 Emphasising “All”
Verb focus: All that I did was work all day.
Object focus: All that I want is a new car.
4.3 Emphasising with “There”
Structure:
cssCopyEditThere + be + Object + that + Subject + Verb
Example:
There are many problems that exist in this project.
4.4 Emphasising with “If”
Structure:
mathematicaCopyEditIf + S + V + O, it’s + Focus element
Example:
If you want to pass the exam, it’s hard study that you need.
4.5 Passive Cleft
Structure (person):
csharpCopyEditIt + be + object (person) + whom/that + be + Past Participle (+ by + Agent)
Examples:
It was John who was given the award.
It was the window that was broken by him.
5. Practice: Rewrite as a Cleft Sentence
1. Mr David saw that I could also take part in the contest.
→ It _______________________________________.
2. Michael isn’t a fan of jazz.
→ It _______________________________________.
3. The children have been cleaning the kitchen.
→ It _______________________________________.
4. His attitude towards other people really annoys me.
→ It _______________________________________.
5. Sophie didn’t know where the keys were.
→ It _______________________________________.
6. Jackie proposed to Lisa at the movie theater.
→ Where _________________________________.
7. Emma wants to have a family meal after tiring days of work.
→ A family meal _________________________________.
8. Christopher defeated John in the final last week.
→ It is John who _________________________________.
9. I found the house key in my backpack.
→ It is the house key _________________________________.
10. Dorothy will sing a song at the prom tonight.
→ There _________________________________.
Đáp án:
1. It was I who Mr. David saw could also take part in the contest.
2. It is Michael who isn't a fan of jazz.
3. It is the children that have been cleaning the kitchen.
4. It is his attitude towards other people that really annoys me.
5. It was Sophie who didn't know where the keys were.
6. Where Jackie proposed to Lisa is the movie theater.
7. A family meal is what Emma wants to have after tiring days of work.
8. It is John who was defeated in the final last week by Christopher.
9. It is the house key that I found in my backpack.
10. There is a song that Dorothy will sing at the prom tonight.
Understanding cleft sentences helps you emphasise important parts of your message, enhancing clarity and impact. Practise with these structures to use them confidently in IELTS or general communication.
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