Cleft Sentences in English

Cleft sentences are used to show the most important part of the sentence.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use cleft sentences and practise using them.

How to use cleft sentences?

Usage

  • Used to emphasise the most important part of a sentence.

Structure

  • It + cleft
  • Wh- + cleft
  • All + cleft
  • There + cleft
  • If – because
  • Use a relative clause after the cleft.

For Example

  • It was Monday when I called you. (The important part is Monday)

 

Examples

All I did was sleep at the weekend.
What I need is a coffee to wake up.
It was me who broke the computer.

Practise

Rewrite the sentences using a cleft sentence.

Common mistakes learners make

  • Forgetting the relative clause
  • Keeping normal word order

Common mistakes learners make

  • Forgetting the relative clause
  • Keeping normal word order
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