Welcome to an advanced styling technique! In professional communication—especially in tourism or hospitality—we sometimes need to emphasize a specific detail or politely correct a misunderstanding.
We do this using Cleft Sentences. Instead of saying "Sophea organized the tour," we say "It was Sophea who organized the tour." This shifts the spotlight exactly where we want it.
warning Professional Tip
A common mistake is forgetting the relative pronoun (who/that/where) in the second half of the sentence. Make sure you connect the two parts! Say "It was the heat that made us tired," not "It was the heat made us tired."
Cleft Structures
Person Focus
It was... who
Used to emphasize the person who performed the action.
Example: It was the tuk-tuk driver who returned the lost wallet to the hotel.
Thing/Action Focus
What... was
Used to emphasize a specific thing or the result of an action.
Example: What the tourists loved most was the authentic local food.
Location Focus
The place where
Used to bring strong attention to the location of an event.
Example: The place where we watched the beautiful sunrise was the temple.
Cause Focus
The reason why
Used to emphasize the underlying cause or explanation for something.
Example: The reason why the flight was delayed was the heavy rain.
Knowledge Check
support_agent Correcting a Guest
The guest thinks the manager booked the car, but the receptionist did it. How do you correct them politely with emphasis?
(Hint: We want to emphasize the person who did the action.)
rate_review Writing a Tour Review
Fill in the blank to emphasize the best part of the trip: "_____ made the trip special was the friendly local guide."
(Hint: We are emphasizing the thing that caused the result.)
map Giving Directions
Fill in the blank: "The place _____ we will meet tomorrow is the hotel lobby."
(Hint: This relative pronoun is used for locations.)
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Study Resources
Lesson Summary & Review
Let's review the key concepts covered in the interactive module above to ensure you are ready to use cleft sentences effectively.
Why use Cleft Sentences?
Cleft sentences are used to focus on a particular part of a sentence and to emphasize what we want to say. They are especially useful in writing and formal speaking when you cannot use intonation (the tone of your voice) for emphasis.
Common Structures
- It was... who/that: Focuses on the person or thing doing the action. (e.g., It was Sophea who sent the email.)
- What... was: Focuses on the action itself or the result. (e.g., What I need is a clear answer.)
- The reason why... was: Focuses on the cause. (e.g., The reason why we are late is the traffic.)
