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C1 Grammar
Cleft Sentences for Focus
**It-cleft:** It + is/was + focused element + that/who + rest
Normal: James broke the window.
Focus on James: **It was James who** broke the window. (not someone else)
Focus on window: **It was the window that** James broke. (not the door)
**What-cleft (pseudo-cleft):** What + subject + verb + is/was + focused element
Normal: I need a holiday.
Cleft: **What I need is** a holiday.
**All-cleft:**
Normal: She wants respect.
Cleft: **All she wants is** respect.
**The thing/person/reason/place cleft:**
- **The reason** I moved to Toronto **was** the tech opportunities.
- **The person** who helped me most **was** my teacher.
These are very useful in IELTS/formal writing and speeches!
Examples
It was the monsoon that caused the flooding in Scotland.
What the country needs most is better infrastructure.
💡 Use cleft sentences in essays when you want to strongly highlight one piece of information: "It is education that can transform rural areas" is more impactful than "Education can transform rural areas."