Cleft Sentence

What is a Cleft Sentence?

A cleft sentence is a type of complex sentence that splits a simple sentence into two clauses. This is done to emphasize a specific part of the sentence, such as the subject, object, or adverbial phrase.

Key Concepts

There are two main types of cleft sentences:

• It-clefts: These begin with ‘It is’ or ‘It was’ followed by the emphasized element and a relative clause.
• Wh-clefts: These begin with a wh-word (like ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’) followed by the emphasized element and a clause.

Deep Dive: It-Clefts

The structure of an it-cleft is:

It is/was + [Emphasized Element] + that/who + [Remaining Clause]

Example: It was John who broke the window. (Emphasizes ‘John’)

Deep Dive: Wh-Clefts

The structure of a wh-cleft is:

[Wh-word] + [Clause] + is/was + [Emphasized Element]

Example: What I need is a cup of coffee. (Emphasizes ‘a cup of coffee’)

Applications

Cleft sentences are used for:

• Rhetorical emphasis: To draw attention to a specific piece of information.
• Clarification: To remove ambiguity or provide specific details.
• Contrast: To highlight a difference between elements.

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common challenge is differentiating between it-clefts and real cleft sentences. Also, overusing them can make writing sound unnatural or overly formal.

FAQs

Are cleft sentences grammatically correct?

Yes, cleft sentences are grammatically correct and a standard feature of English.

Can any part of a sentence be emphasized?

Generally, subjects, objects, and adverbials can be emphasized. Verbs are more difficult to emphasize using this structure.