Cleft Sentences

Cleft sentences split one idea into two clauses to emphasise a particular piece of information: It was Tom who broke the window. What I need is a holiday.

It-cleft sentences follow the pattern It + be + the emphasised information + that/who + rest of the sentence: It was Tom who broke the window (= Tom, not someone else, broke it). This structure is used to correct, contrast, or highlight information. Wh-cleft (pseudo-cleft) sentences start with What (or sometimes All, The thing) + clause + be + the emphasised information: What I need is a holiday (= more than anything, I need a holiday). What-clefts are also used to emphasise an action: What she did was call the police. Both structures move the important information to a prominent position, usually at the beginning or end of the sentence.

+ It + be + focus + that/who + clause | What + clause + be + focus

• It was my sister who called you last night.
• What surprised me was his honesty.
• It is hard work that leads to success.

− It wasn't ... that ... | What ... isn't ...

• It wasn't the price that bothered me — it was the quality.
• What I don't like is how noisy the office is.

? Was it ... that/who ...? / What is it that ...?

• Was it you who left the door open?
• What is it that worries you most?

• ENIt was Maria who organised the whole event.

  KZБүкіл іс-шараны ұйымдастырған Мария болды.

  RUИменно Мария организовала всё мероприятие.

• ENIt was in 2015 that they moved to Almaty.

  KZОлар Алматыға 2015 жылы көшкен.

  RUИменно в 2015 году они переехали в Алматы.

• ENWhat I need right now is a cup of coffee.

  KZМаған қазір керегі — бір кесе кофе.

  RUСейчас мне нужна чашка кофе.

• ENWhat surprised everyone was how calm she stayed.

  KZБәрін таң қалдырғаны — оның қаншалықты сабырлы болуы.

  RUВсех удивило то, насколько спокойной она оставалась.

• ENIt wasn't John who broke the vase; it was the cat.

  KZВазаны сындырған Джон емес; мысық сындырды.

  RUНе Джон разбил вазу, а кошка.

• ENIt is her determination that makes her successful.

  KZОны табысты ететін — оның табандылығы.

  RUИменно её целеустремлённость делает её успешной.

• ENWhat she did was apologise to everyone in the room.

  KZОл бөлмедегі барлық адамнан кешірім сұрады.

  RUОна извинилась перед всеми в комнате.

• ENIt was only yesterday that I found out the truth.

  KZШындықты тек кеше ғана білдім.

  RUТолько вчера я узнал правду.

• ENAll I want is a bit of peace and quiet.

  KZМенің қалайтыным — аздаған тыныштық қана.

  RUВсё, что я хочу, — немного тишины и покоя.

• ENIt was the manager, not the staff, who made the decision.

  KZШешімді қызметкерлер емес, менеджер қабылдады.

  RUРешение принял менеджер, а не сотрудники.

• ✗ It was Tom which broke the window.

  ✓ It was Tom who broke the window.

  Use who for people in it-cleft sentences, not which.

• ✗ What I need is to have more free time.

  ✓ What I need is more free time.

  After be in a what-cleft, use a noun phrase that matches naturally; avoid an unnecessary infinitive when a noun works.

• ✗ It was she who did it, isn't she?

  ✓ It was she who did it, wasn't it?

  The tag question refers back to 'it', not to the emphasised person.

It-cleft vs Wh-cleft (What-cleft)

It-clefts emphasise a specific noun or phrase using It + be + ... + that/who (It was the manager who called). Wh-clefts emphasise using What + clause + be + ... , often focusing on needs, wants or actions (What the manager did was call).

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