Cleft Sentences: Definition, Types, and Examples

Have you ever wanted to emphasise a specific part of a sentence — maybe the person, place, or reason? That’s where Cleft Sentences come in. They make your English sound more natural, formal, and expressive, especially in writing and public speaking.

Let’s explore what cleft sentences are, how they work, and how you can use them confidently at an advanced level.

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📘 What Is a Cleft Sentence?

A Cleft Sentence is a sentence that is divided into two parts (“cleft” means split).
This division helps to emphasise one particular element — who, what, when, where, or why.

Example:
👉 Normal sentence: John bought the car yesterday.
👉 Cleft sentence: It was John who bought the car yesterday.

💡 Meaning is the same, but emphasis changes — now we focus on “John.”

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🧩 Structure of a Cleft Sentence

The most common form is the It-cleft, which follows this pattern:

It + be + emphasised part + clause

Examples:

• It was Mary who called you.
• It is the pronunciation that confuses students.
• It was in 2022 that Sujyoti launched its DELCA programme.

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🧠 Types of Cleft Sentences

There are several ways to form cleft sentences in English. Let’s look at the most important ones:

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1️⃣ It-Cleft Sentences (Most Common)

Focuses on a person, place, time, or reason.

Examples:

• It was my teacher who inspired me to learn English.
• It was at Sujyoti where I improved my pronunciation.
• It was because of practice that I became fluent.

👉 Use: To make your sentence more dramatic or formal.

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2️⃣ Wh-Cleft Sentences (Pseudo-Clefts)

Formed with what, where, why, how, when, etc.

What + clause + be + emphasised part

Examples:

• What I need is a cup of coffee.
• What she loves most is teaching.
• Where you learn matters more than how long you learn.

👉 Use: To highlight information at the end of the sentence.

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3️⃣ Reverse Wh-Clefts

The emphasised part comes first, followed by the what/where clause.

Examples:

• A good mentor is what every learner needs.
• Hard work is what makes the difference.

👉 Use: To sound natural and conversational.

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4️⃣ All-Cleft Sentences

Start with all to express focus on the only thing that matters.

Examples:

• All I want is to speak English confidently.
• All he did was make excuses.

👉 Use: To show limitation or strong emotion.

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🧩 Why Use Cleft Sentences?

Cleft sentences make your language:

• Emphatic: They highlight the important idea.
• Formal: Suitable for academic writing and debates.
• Expressive: Add rhythm and focus to your speaking.

Compare:

• I love Sujyoti because of its small class size.
• What I love about Sujyoti is its small class size. ✅ (more engaging)

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📝 Quick Practice

Rewrite the following sentences as cleft sentences:

1. She taught me grammar.
2. The students improved because of practice.
3. I met her at the seminar.
4. Honesty makes a person respected.
5. They introduced DELCA in 2022.

Answers:

1. It was she who taught me grammar.
2. It was because of practice that the students improved.
3. It was at the seminar that I met her.
4. What makes a person respected is honesty.
5. It was in 2022 that they introduced DELCA.

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🎯 Learn Advanced Grammar with Sujyoti

At Sujyoti Language School, we help learners master C1–C2 level grammar like inversion, nominalisation, and cleft sentences through clear explanations, real-life examples, and speaking practice.

Our DELCA programme offers:

• Advanced grammar & writing for professionals
• Pronunciation & presentation training (British RP)
• Weekly one-to-one oral & written exams
• CEFR-aligned certification

👉 Book your Free Demo Class today and learn to speak English like a pro!