It was John who broke the window.
- Language
- English
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Emphasis and Inversion
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Cleft sentences are special sentence structures in English used to give emphasis to a specific part of a sentence. They help highlight what is important.
When to use it
Use cleft sentences when you want to highlight or stress a particular word, phrase, or idea in a sentence. They are common in both spoken and written English for clarity or focus.
Key forms
- It is/was + emphasized part + that/who + rest of sentence.
- What + clause + is + emphasized part.
Examples
What I need is a cup of tea.
It is at the weekend that I relax.
What surprised me was her answer.
Tips
- Use 'it is/was' for people, things, time, or place you want to emphasize.
- Use 'what' for emphasizing actions or ideas.
- Be careful with the word order; don't forget 'that' or 'who' after the emphasized part.