Cleft sentences are a type of sentence that uses a relative clause to focus attention on a particular detail and introduce new information to the listener in the context of old information. The most common cleft sentences are it-clauses and what-clauses. It-clauses are formed with "it + be + emphasized information + relative clause" and what-clauses are formed with "what-clause + be + emphasized information." Other cleft structures include "the thing that," "the place where," "the day when," "the reason why," and "the people who," linked to another clause with "is" or "was."

1. Cleft
Sentences

2. What are they?

3. Cleft Sentences
It is a kind of sentence that uses a relative clause to
focus attention on a particular detail.
Often is introduces new information to the listener in the
context of old information they already know. Sometime it
gives surprising information.
Normally we do this with emphasis or intonation.

4. How?

5. Cleft Sentences
The most common types of cleft sentence are the it-
clause and what-clause.
‐ It’s January that I’m going on holiday.
‐ What’s interesting is that he never even told us.

6. It-clause
The it-clause is formed:
‐ it + be+ emphasized information + relative clause
‐ It was my sister who got married last year.
‐ It was a new TV that Sam bought.
‐ It was last Saturday that they got in trouble.
In each case, the words in bold are already known. The
other information is new or surprising to the listener.

7. What-clause
The what-clause is formed:
‐ what-clause + be + emphasized information
‐ What you should do is invest all your money in
Bitcoin.
‐ What she does is write all her e-mails in the morning.
‐ What he likes is to be left alone.
What is very commonly followed by the verb “do”.

8. What-clause
Native speakers often substitute “what” for “all”:
‐ What I want for Christmas is an Xbox.
‐ All I want for Christmas is an Xbox.
‐ What I did was add a little extra milk.
‐ All I did was add a little extra milk.

9. Others
Other cleft structures are:
‐ the thing that
‐ the place where
‐ the day when
‐ the reason why
‐ the people who
These are linked to another clause with “is” or “was”.

10. Examples
‐ The reason why I’ve come is to hand in my
resignation.
‐ The thing that I like best about you is your honesty.
‐ The place where we met is very special to me.
‐ The day when the war ended is celebrated across the
whole country.

11. More Grammar Resources
‐ IELTS students should take a look at www.ted-
ielts.com for free IELTS grammar and writing lessons.
‐ IELTS teachers can go to www.ielts-teaching.com for
lesson plans and activities.