What Are Cleft Sentences?
What is the purpose of cleft sentences?
To emphasize specific parts of a sentence for clarity or focus.
What is the basic structure of an it-cleft sentence?
"It + be + [emphasized element] + who/that + [rest of the sentence]."
What word is commonly used to start a wh-cleft sentence?
"What."
Name two common structures used in cleft sentences.
"It is/was" and "What."
Transform this sentence into an it-cleft: "John ate the pizza."
"It was John who ate the pizza."
Rewrite this sentence as a wh-cleft: "He needs a vacation."
"What he needs is a vacation."
True or False: Cleft sentences are used to de-emphasize information.
False. They are used to emphasize information.
True or False: It-clefts can emphasize places and objects as well as people.
True
Identify the emphasized element: "What surprised me was her reaction."
"Her reaction."
Give an example of a cleft sentence.
"It was Mary who won the prize."
Identify the emphasized element in this sentence: "It was the book that she borrowed from the library."
"The book."
True or False: Wh-clefts can only emphasize actions.
False. They can emphasize objects, people, or places.
How do cleft sentences improve communication?
By making key information stand out, helping clarify meaning and avoiding confusion.
Transform this sentence into an it-cleft: "They met at the cafe last week."
"It was at the cafe that they met last week."
Create a wh-cleft from this sentence: "The teacher explained the concept."
"What the teacher explained was the concept."