Grammar: Advanced Sentence Structures
C1 Lesson 10: Cleft Sentences for Emphasis
Why It Matters: Simple vs. Emphatic
A Cleft Sentence splits a simple sentence into two parts to highlight a specific piece of information. This is a powerful tool for clarifying your meaning or making a strong point.
Sokha bought a new motorbike yesterday.
It was Sokha who bought the new motorbike, not Dara.
The Grammar Rules 📖
Type 1: The "It-Cleft"
Use "It is..." or "It was..." to focus on a specific noun (person, thing, place, or time).
- Emphasizing the person: "It was Sokha who bought a new motorbike yesterday." (Not Dara).
- Emphasizing the thing: "It was a new motorbike that Sokha bought yesterday." (Not a bicycle).
- Emphasizing the time: "It was yesterday that Sokha bought a new motorbike." (Not last week).
Type 2: The "What-Cleft"
Use a clause beginning with "What" to emphasize the action or the object/idea of a sentence.
- Emphasizing the object/idea:
Simple: "I need a holiday." → Cleft: "What I need is a holiday." - Emphasizing the action (using 'did'):
Simple: "He broke the window." → Cleft: "What he did was break the window."
💡 Pro Tip: Register and Tone
"What-clefts" are very common in spoken English to add friendly emphasis (e.g., "What I love about this city is the friendly people."). "It-clefts" can sound more formal, making them excellent for academic or professional writing where you need to be very precise.
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Create Emphasis
Rewrite these simple sentences as cleft sentences to emphasize the bold part.
- She loves Khmer traditional music. (Use an It-cleft)
→ It is Khmer traditional music that she loves. - I need a long holiday. (Use a What-cleft)
→ What I need is a long holiday. - My brother broke the glass, not me! (Use an It-cleft)
→ It was my brother who broke the glass, not me! - He painted the beautiful picture. (Use a What-cleft for the action)
→ What he did was paint the beautiful picture.
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Emphasize Your Ideas
Write your own cleft sentences for these situations.
- Think of your favorite food. Write a sentence about it using an "It-cleft".
(Example: It is beef lok lak that I like more than any other food.) - Think of one important thing you must do tomorrow. Write a sentence using a "What-cleft".
(Example: What I must do tomorrow is finish my assignment.)
Key Vocabulary
- Cleft Sentence A complex sentence that is "split" to put emphasis on one element.
- Emphasis Special importance or value given to something.
- To Highlight To attract attention to or emphasize something important.
- Sophistication The quality of being advanced, complex, or having a good understanding of style.