Cleft sentences: What they are and what they do

Cleft sentences are a grammatical construction used to place emphasis on a specific part of a sentence. They “cleave” or divide a single sentence into two clauses, allowing the speaker or writer to highlight particular information. Because of this, cleft sentences are a valuable tool for adding emphasis and clarity to communication.

Purpose

• Emphasis
  • The primary function of cleft sentences is to emphasize a particular element of a sentence, bringing it into focus.  
• Information structure
  • They help to organize information by distinguishing between what is already known (the “given” information) and what is new or important (the “focus”).  
• Clarity
  • They can improve clarity by making it easier for the listener or reader to understand the most important part of the message.  

Types of cleft sentences

• “It”-clefts
  • This is the most common type. They typically follow the structure: “It + be + emphasized element + that/who clause.”
    • Example: “It was John who broke the vase.” (Emphasis on “John”)
    • Example: “It was yesterday that I went to the store.” (Emphasis on “yesterday”)
• “Wh”-clefts (or pseudo-clefts)
  • These use “wh-” words like “what,” “who,” “where,” and “why.”
    • Example: “What I need is a vacation.” (Emphasis on “a vacation”)
    • Example: “Where I went was to the library.” (Emphasis on “to the library”)

What they do

• Focus attention
  • Cleft sentences draw the listener’s or reader’s attention to the emphasized element.  
• Provide context
  • They often provide context by referring to information that is already known.  
• Create a sense of contrast
  • They can imply a contrast between the emphasized element and other possibilities.

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