Cleft sentences

Cleft, or “divided”, constructions can be used to emphasize particular items of information in

a sentence by putting them in a separate clause. They are common in spoken English, and
can also be used to signal emphasis in writing, where it cannot be indicated by intonation.

A- Emphasis with IT + BE

This structure can put emphasis on most parts of a sentence except the verb. It often im-
plies a contrast with the previous statement:

Dr. Christinaan Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant in South Africa in
1967

Dr Christinaan Barnard who/that performed the

It was world’s first heart transplant
in South Africa in 1967.
in South Africa that the world’s first heart
in 1967 transplant was performed.

You’re always stressed out because you work so hard.

- It is because you work so hard that you are always stressed out.

I always travel by bus.

- It is by bus that I always travel.

They got together at 5 p.m.

- It was at 5 p.m. that they got together.

B - Emphasis with WHAT / ALL + BE

1- In this type of cleft structure a noun clause beginning with what or all is used. It can em-
phasize any part of the sentence, including the verb.

Regular exercise keeps you healthy.(subject)

- What keeps you healthy is regular exercise. (subject)

- Regular exercise is what keeps you healthy.

I particularly enjoyed going to the movies.(object)

- What I particularly enjoyed was going to the movies. (object)

- Going to the movies was what I particularly enjoyed.

2- The verb can be emphasized by using do in the wh-clause.

I decided I needed to keep fit, so I joined a health club.

- I decided I needed to keep fit, so what I did was to join a health club.
3- To emphasize the whole sentence, we can use happen.

The population has increased.

- What has happened is that the population has increased.

4- ALL can be used to emphasize the action. It can also replace what if it refers to the ob-
ject of the clause.

My sister has always wanted to look like a movie star.

- All my sister ever wanted is to look like a movie star. l

I just wanted my own car.

- All I wanted was my own car.

C - Emphasis with the thing that, the place where, the reason why, the person who,
etc.

Dr. Christinaan Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant in South Africa in
1967

The person who performed the world’s first Dr Chistiaan Barnard.

heart transplant in South Africa in 1967

What Dr. Barnard did or (to) perform the world’s first heart trans-
The thing that Dr. Barnard did plant in South Africa in 1967.
was
The year (that/when) Dr. Barnard per- 1967.
formed the world’s first heart transplant
The place where the world’s first transplant South Africa.
was performed

She went there to make some contacts.

- The reason (why) she went there was to make some contacts.

We decided to travel on Monday.

- The day we decided to travel was Monday. (It was on Monday that we decided to travel)