Cleft sentences are grammatical constructions that break information into two clauses to provide emphasis on a particular piece of information. There are two main types: it-cleft sentences which use "it is/was" to highlight a word or phrase, and wh-cleft sentences which use "what" to focus on a word, phrase, or action. Cleft sentences allow speakers to rearrange elements in a sentence to draw attention to a specific subject, object, time, place, or other element.

1. CLEFT SENTENCES What are they?

2. Definition : A grammatical construction with information broken into two clauses, to provide extra focus to one piece of information . It-cleft : “ It was his voice that I loved.” Wh-cleft : “ What I want is something to eat.”

3. IT-CLEFT SENTENCES Pattern: It + be + highlighted word/phrase + that/who clause. SENTENCE John stole a book from the library last week Subject as focus It was John who/that stole a book from the library last week. Object as focus It was a book that John stole from the library last week. Time as focus It was last week that John stole a book from the library. Place as focus It was from the library that John stole a book last week. or more informally, It was the library that John stole a book from last week.

4. MORE EXAMPLES I did everything, not him. It was me who/that did everything I can’t stand horror movies It’s horror movies that I can’t stand

5. WHAT CLEFT SENTENCES To focus on a word/phrase What-clause + be + highlighted word/phrase: “ What I ignore about him is his rudeness ” To focus on an action What + subject + do + be + infinitive clause: “ What John did yesterday was steal a book from the library ” To focus on a whole sentence What happens + be + clause: “ What happens is we always end up having a row ”

6. OTHER CLEFT SENTENCES Person “ The person who told me about it was Mike” Thing “ The thing/all/something/one thing I want is a cup of tea” Place “ The place where he went for some business is Turkey” Time “ The year when I graduated from university was the most difficult time of my life” “ It wasn´t until I met him that I knew how modest he was” Reason “ The reason why I fell out with her was her extreme rudeness”

7. Easy, isn’t it? Now, let’s practise what we’ve learnt and remember, always try to use the new structures you learn.

8. I did everything. -> It was me who/that did everything We need action , not words. -> It is … -> What we… -> All we need … I want a cup of tea . -> It is a ... -> What I ... -> All I ... -> The thing …

9. John went to Turkey for some business . -> It was John ... -> It is Turkey ... -> It is some business … -> What John did … -> The reason why … -> The place where … I left the office early because I felt terribly ill. -> It was because ... -> The reason …

10. After Dr. John Doe died, he was discovered to be a woman . -> It was only after he died that Dr. John Doe was discovered to be a woman. When I entered the room, I noticed they were about to celebrate my birthday. -> It was only when I entered the room that I noticed they were about to celebrate my birthday. I didn’t know how modest he was until I met John Doe . -> It wasn’t until I met John Doe that I knew how modest he was.