Cleft Sentences: It Clefts, Wh Clefts and Examples

Overview

Every sentence carries a mixture of information: some of it is already known or expected by the reader, and some of it is new. A cleft sentence is a grammatical structure that reorganises a clause to bring one piece of new or contrasted information into sharp focus. The word cleft means split, and a cleft sentence does exactly that: it takes the content of one clause and divides it across two, placing the most important element in the position of greatest emphasis.

Cleft sentences appear throughout formal and academic writing as well as in speech. Each one makes a specific claim about what the reader should attend to. It was the delay in funding that caused the failure emphasises a particular cause. What the committee needed was more time emphasises a particular need. Without the cleft structure, both sentences remain true but lack the directional emphasis that tells the reader exactly where to focus.

There are two main types of cleft sentence in English: the it-cleft and the wh-cleft, also called a pseudo-cleft. A less common variation, the reverse wh-cleft, is also covered below.

It-Clefts

An it-cleft sentence begins with the placeholder subject it, followed by a form of be, followed by the element being emphasised, followed by a relative clause introduced by that, who, or which. The basic pattern is:

It + be + emphasised element + that/who + rest of information

The element placed between be and that receives the emphasis. Everything else in the sentence is treated as background information. The it-cleft effectively says: of all the things that could be said here, this particular element is the one that matters.

Tense in It-Clefts

The form of be in an it-cleft matches the tense appropriate to the context. Past events typically use it was; present situations use it is; emphasis on a future element can use it will be.

Negative It-Clefts

An it-cleft can be negative, correcting a false assumption or contrasting with something previously stated. The negative form places not after be.

Negative it-clefts are effective in academic and analytical writing when the writer needs to redirect attention from a common misconception to the actual point.

Wh-Clefts

A wh-cleft begins with a wh-clause that acts as the subject of the sentence. The form of be follows, and the emphasised element comes at the end. The basic pattern is:

Wh-clause + be + emphasised element

The wh-word used most often in this construction is what, though where, when, why, and who also appear. The what-clause functions as a noun clause and typically refers to an action, a quality, or a thing.

The wh-cleft is useful when the writer wants to highlight a noun phrase or an action rather than a specific person, time, or place. It often produces a more formal, analytical tone than the it-cleft, and it is common in academic introductions and conclusions where a single key point needs to be isolated.

Reverse Wh-Clefts

A reverse wh-cleft places the emphasised element first and the wh-clause second. This form is more common in speech than in formal writing, but it appears in both contexts when the emphasis is particularly strong.

Comparing It-Clefts and Wh-Clefts

Both types of cleft sentence achieve emphasis, but they direct the reader's attention differently and suit different contexts.

The choice between the two often comes down to what feels most natural given the length and structure of the emphasised element. Single words and short noun phrases tend to suit the it-cleft. Longer noun phrases and actions involving a verb tend to suit the wh-cleft.

Cleft Sentences and Subject-Verb Agreement

A frequent source of error in wh-clefts is subject-verb agreement. The form of be agrees with the element after it, not with the wh-clause that opens the sentence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using Which Instead of That After the Emphasised Element

In it-clefts that emphasise a thing, that is the standard relative pronoun. Which is not used in this position in standard formal English.

Mistake 2: Omitting That After the Emphasised Element

In it-clefts, that (or who for people) is required after the emphasised element. Dropping it leaves an incomplete or ambiguous structure.

Mistake 3: Wrong Subject-Verb Agreement in Wh-Clefts

Agreement is determined by the element after be, not by the opening wh-clause.

Mistake 4: Overusing Cleft Sentences

A cleft sentence creates emphasis by making one element stand out. If every sentence in a paragraph uses a cleft structure, the effect is lost and the writing becomes monotonous.

Mistake 5: Applying a Cleft Structure to an Already-Emphasised Element

A cleft sentence treats the background information as known or assumed. If the reader does not yet know the background, the cleft structure creates an imbalance and can mislead.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Form an It-Cleft

Rewrite each sentence as an it-cleft, emphasising the underlined element.

1. The new legislation changed the industry's approach to data privacy.
2. The consultant submitted the financial projections to the board.
3. They signed the agreement in Geneva.
4. The project coordinator identified the flaw in the original design.
5. The policy was revised because of sustained public pressure.

Exercise 2: Form a Wh-Cleft

Rewrite each sentence as a wh-cleft, emphasising the underlined element.

1. The committee needed more time to review the evidence.
2. The investigation revealed a pattern of repeated non-compliance.
3. The researchers did not expect the results to vary so significantly.
4. The organisation values transparency above all else.
5. Everyone underestimated the complexity of the transition.

Exercise 3: Correct the Error

Each sentence contains one error in the formation of a cleft sentence. Rewrite it correctly.

1. It was the budget which caused the most concern among investors.
2. It was the senior partner approved the final terms of the agreement.
3. What the data revealed were a single outlier that skewed the results.
4. It is not the findings that are disputed but the conclusions they drew from them.
5. What surprised the panel was the number of applications were unusually high.

Summary

Cleft sentences work best when used selectively, at moments where directing the reader's attention genuinely changes how they interpret the information.