Lesson
Grammar: Cleft sentences for emphasis
"What I find most worrying is…", "It was only when… that…": structures that put the focus exactly where you want it, in speaking and in writing.
What is a cleft sentence?
It splits one idea into two parts to emphasise one element.
| Type | Plain | Cleft |
|---|---|---|
| What-cleft | I find the cost most worrying. | What I find most worrying is the cost. |
| It-cleft | The government should act. | It is the government that should act. |
| The reason… is that | Prices rose because supply fell. | The reason prices rose is that supply fell. |
| All… is | I want a chance to try. | All I want is a chance to try. |
| It was only when… that | I understood when I lived there. | It was only when I lived there that I understood. |
With a verb as the focus: "do"
Use them sparingly
One or two in a speaking test or essay show control. Every sentence in cleft form sounds unnatural.
Questions 1–6
Complete each cleft sentence with ONE WORD.
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I enjoy most about my job is meeting new people.
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It my grandmother who taught me to cook.
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The reason I chose this course that it includes a work placement.
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I need is a little more time.
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It was only when I moved abroad I realised how much I missed home.
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What the council was close the road to traffic.
Questions 7–10
Is each sentence correct or incorrect?
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What worries me is the rising cost of living.
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The reason why I left is because the salary was too low.
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It is young people who will be most affected by climate change.
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What I did it was to apply for a scholarship.
