C1 · Avanzado Capítulo 16

Using Cleft Sentences to Highlight Information

7 Reglas totales
81 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of cleft sentences to command attention and highlight the most important information in your speech.

  • Identify the best cleft structure for your intended message.
  • Integrate emphatic markers to add emotional weight to your arguments.
  • Transform standard declarative sentences into persuasive, high-impact statements.
Command the spotlight with every sentence.

Lo que aprenderás

Discover how to truly make your points resonate. This chapter guides you in using powerful structures like It-clefts and Wh-clefts to strategically highlight information, enabling you to communicate with greater precision and persuasive flair.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use It-clefts and Wh-clefts to rewrite flat sentences into dynamic, focused arguments.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

As you advance in your English journey to C1 level, simply conveying information isn't enough; you need to express ideas fluently and spontaneously with impact and nuance. This chapter on English using cleft sentences to highlight information is your secret weapon for achieving just that. Far from being a mere grammatical curiosity, mastering cleft sentences – including It-clefts and Wh-clefts – empowers you to take control of your message, focusing your listener's attention precisely where you want it.
Imagine being able to subtly (or not so subtly!) correct a misunderstanding, add dramatic flair to a story, or emphatically state a truth. These advanced structures, like the Emphatic Do/Does/Did, the All-cleft, and those that spotlight 'when' or 'where' something happened, give your English a persuasive edge and C1-level sophistication. They're about more than just correctness; they're about communication strategy, making your points resonate deeply and transforming your speaking and writing from merely clear to truly compelling.

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, this grammar is about shifting the emphasis within a sentence. Instead of a straightforward statement, we restructure it to bring a specific piece of information into the spotlight. Think of it as putting a verbal spotlight on the most crucial part of your message.
We begin with the foundational concept of emphasis: the Emphatic Do/Does/Did. When you say,
I *do* like it!
you're not just confirming; you're often contradicting an assumption or adding sincere warmth, almost like verbal bolding. This simple addition elevates the verb.
Building on this, It-clefts are structures like
It was X that Y
or
It is X who Y.
They allow you to take any part of a sentence – the subject, object, time, or place – and place it directly after 'It is' or 'It was' for maximum impact. For example, instead of
My boss suggested the idea,
you can say,
It was my boss who suggested the idea,
clearly highlighting the person responsible. Similarly,
It was yesterday that the decision was made
puts the focus squarely on the timing.
This is incredibly useful for clarification, contrast, or adding dramatic weight.
Then we have Wh-clefts, often starting with 'What', 'Who', 'Where', 'When', or 'Why'. These are fantastic for spotlighting actions or needs, making your statements more persuasive and dynamic. For instance, instead of
I need a long break,
you can express it more forcefully as,
What I need is a long break.
The All-cleft is a specific type of Wh-cleft that uses 'All' to indicate exclusivity, such as
All I want is a quiet evening,
emphasizing that nothing else matters.
By strategically employing these structures, you're not just speaking English; you're truly shaping your message with C1 precision.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Overuse in simple contexts: *It is that I went to the store yesterday.*
✓ Correction: *I went to the store yesterday.* (Clefts are for emphasis, not everyday simple statements.)
Explanation: While powerful, cleft sentences add formality and emphasis. Using them unnecessarily can make your speech sound unnatural or overly dramatic. Reserve them for moments when you genuinely want to highlight information.
  1. 1✗ Incorrect verb agreement or pronoun usage in It-clefts: *It was them who arrived late.*
✓ Correction: *It was they who arrived late.* (More formally correct, though 'them' is common informally). Or, *It was I who made the mistake.* (Not *It was me who...*)
Explanation: The pronoun after 'It is'/'It was' should ideally be in the subject form (I, he, she, we, they) in formal contexts, especially when followed by 'who' or 'that'. The verb in the relative clause should also agree with the highlighted subject, e.g., *It is the students who *are* protesting.*
  1. 1✗ Confusing structure of Wh-clefts with direct questions: *What did he do was steal the money.*
✓ Correction: *What he did was steal the money.*
Explanation: Wh-clefts are statements that use a 'wh'-word to introduce the emphasized clause, followed by a form of 'be'. They are not interrogative sentences, so avoid question word order in the first part of the cleft.

Real Conversations

A

A

I thought Sarah was going to present her findings today.
B

B

Oh, she *did* present them! You must have stepped out. It was David who forgot to update the schedule.
A

A

This report is a mess. I can't understand the main point.
B

B

I agree. What this report needs is a clear executive summary at the beginning. Otherwise, it's just a wall of text.
A

A

So, you're saying the project failed because of budget cuts?
B

B

Not entirely. It was the lack of communication that truly undermined the project, more than anything else.

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use a cleft sentence instead of a simple sentence?

You should use a cleft sentence when you want to put particular emphasis on one part of your message, to clarify, correct, contrast, or add drama. For example, to correct a misunderstanding or to highlight a specific detail that's crucial to your point.

Q

Are cleft sentences always formal?

While they can lend a more formal tone, especially in writing, many cleft structures, like

What I mean is...
or "It's you I'm talking to," are very common in spoken, informal English to add emphasis or clarity. The choice depends on the specific structure and context.

Q

What's the main difference between It-clefts and Wh-clefts?

It-clefts (e.g.,

It was John who left
) emphasize a specific noun or pronoun (person, object, time, place). Wh-clefts (e.g.,
What John did was leave
) typically emphasize an action or a generalized idea, often focusing on the 'what' of a situation.

Q

Can I use clefts in writing as well as speaking?

Absolutely! Cleft sentences are excellent tools for both written and spoken English. In writing, they can make your arguments more persuasive and highlight key information for the reader. In speaking, they add natural emphasis and allow you to guide your listener's attention dynamically.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers instinctively use these patterns not just for grammatical correctness, but for their communicative impact. They're masters of strategic emphasis. In everyday conversation, you'll hear emphatic do and Wh-clefts (especially
What I need is...
) frequently to express strong opinions or needs.
It-clefts are common for correcting misinformation or adding weight to a statement, often with a slight pause for dramatic effect. While formal writing might prefer
It was I who...
, casual speech often opts for
It was me who...
, showcasing the flexibility and natural evolution of these structures. They are key to sounding truly fluent and spontaneous.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

I **do** love that new Netflix series.

¡Sí que me encanta esa nueva serie de Netflix!

Énfasis: ¡*Sí* que me gusta! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)
2

She **does** have a point about the budget.

Ella sí que tiene razón con lo del presupuesto.

Énfasis: ¡*Sí* que me gusta! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)
3

`All I want is a break` from studying.

Lo único que quiero es un descanso de estudiar.

Énfasis Universal: Usando 'All' para Focalizar (Cláusula Cleft con 'All')
4

`All he did was send` a quick text, not a lengthy email.

Lo único que hizo fue enviar un mensaje rápido, no un correo electrónico largo.

Énfasis Universal: Usando 'All' para Focalizar (Cláusula Cleft con 'All')
5

What I really want for my birthday is a new gaming console.

Lo que realmente quiero para mi cumpleaños es una nueva consola de videojuegos.

Lo que necesitas es... (Oraciones escindidas con Wh- para énfasis)
6

What she does every morning is meditate for ten minutes.

Lo que ella hace cada mañana es meditar durante diez minutos.

Lo que necesitas es... (Oraciones escindidas con Wh- para énfasis)
7

What I *really* want is a break from studying.

Lo que realmente quiero es un descanso de estudiar.

Wh-Clefts: Añadiendo Drama a las Acciones
8

What she *did* was completely ignore my message.

Lo que ella hizo fue ignorar por completo mi mensaje.

Wh-Clefts: Añadiendo Drama a las Acciones

Consejos y trucos (4)

🎯

La Clave Está en el Estrés (Vocal)

Si no enfatizas vocalmente la palabra 'do' (o 'does', 'did'), la frase sonará desordenada gramaticalmente. ¡Dale un buen golpe a ese auxiliar! Es como si dijeras:
I *do* like it!
(¡Sí que me gusta!) para que te crean.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Énfasis: ¡*Sí* que me gusta! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)
💡

Piensa 'Solo Esto'

Siempre que quieras enfatizar que 'solo esta' acción o cosa es importante, una 'all-cleft' es tu mejor opción. Elimina todas las demás posibilidades, dejando solo el mensaje central.
All I care about is your happiness.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Énfasis Universal: Usando 'All' para Focalizar (Cláusula Cleft con 'All')
💡

Usa 'What' con frecuencia

Aunque otras palabras Wh- también funcionan, 'What' es, con diferencia, la más común y versátil para las Wh-clefts. Si tienes dudas, ¡empieza por ahí!
What I want is a good coffee.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Lo que necesitas es... (Oraciones escindidas con Wh- para énfasis)
💡

Úsalas para Clarificar

Si sientes que tu mensaje no es del todo claro, una Wh-cleft puede señalar la acción o información exacta. Es como poner una flecha verbal en la parte más crucial de tu frase. "What I'm trying to say is that we need a new plan."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Wh-Clefts: Añadiendo Drama a las Acciones

Vocabulario clave (5)

Emphatic expressing something with force Cleft a split or divided structure Declarative a statement of fact Temporal relating to time Focus the center of interest or activity

Real-World Preview

briefcase

The Persuasive Pitch

Review Summary

  • Subject + do/does/did + Verb
  • All + [clause] + is + [focus]
  • What + [clause] + is/was + [focus]
  • What + Subject + did + was + [action]
  • It + be + [focus] + that/who + [clause]
  • It + be + [object] + that + [subject+verb]
  • It + be + [time/place] + that + [clause]

Errores comunes

Wh-clefts often require singular agreement even if the focus is plural.

Wrong: What I need are a coffee.
Correcto: What I need is a coffee.

Use 'that' for It-clefts, not 'where' or 'when'.

Wrong: It is in London where I met her.
Correcto: It is in London that I met her.

Avoid repeating the subject after the 'all' clause.

Wrong: All I need, it is money.
Correcto: All I need is money.

Reglas en este capítulo (7)

1

Énfasis: ¡*Sí* que me gusta! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)

C1
El 'emphatic do' es como poner el texto en negrita, pero en tu voz. Sirve para 'aclarar la verdad', 'contradecir suposiciones' o añadir 'sinceridad cortés' a lo que dices. ¡Pruébalo!
I **do** love that new Netflix series.
10 ejemplos
2

Énfasis Universal: Usando 'All' para Focalizar (Cláusula Cleft con 'All')

C1
Domina las all-clefts para enfatizar poderosamente la *única* acción o cosa que importa. Son geniales para dar un énfasis único o aclarar lo esencial.
`All I want is a break` from studying.
12 ejemplos
3

Lo que necesitas es... (Oraciones escindidas con Wh- para énfasis)

C1
Usa las Wh-clefts para iluminar la información crucial, añadiendo claridad y un énfasis impactante a tu comunicación. ¡Domina esta estructura y sonarás como un nativo!
What I really want for my birthday is a new gaming...
11 ejemplos
4

Wh-Clefts: Añadiendo Drama a las Acciones

C1
Usa las Wh-clefts para ponerle un gran spotlight a acciones específicas o eventos enteros. ¡Es como un zoom in verbal a lo importantísimo!
What I *really* want is a break from studying.
12 ejemplos
5

Oraciones escindidas con 'It' (It-Clefts): Añadiendo énfasis fuerte

C1
Domina los 'it'-clefts para añadir un énfasis poderoso y preciso a cualquier parte de tus oraciones en inglés.
It was *John* who forgot the keys.
12 ejemplos
6

It-Clefts en inglés: Enfatizando el objeto (It was the...)

C1
Domina las It-Clefts para hacer que objetos específicos resalten, añadiendo claridad y un poder persuasivo a tu inglés avanzado. ¡Es como poner un foco en lo más importante!
It was `the subtle changes` that I noticed first i...
12 ejemplos
7

Oraciones Hendidas con 'It' para Tiempo y Lugar: 'Fue entonces cuando...'

C1
Con los 'It-Clefts' para tiempo y lugar, tienes una forma genial de poner el foco en detalles clave, añadiendo énfasis y claridad a lo que comunicas.
It was *at the local library* that I finally found...
12 ejemplos

Next Steps

You have mastered one of the most powerful tools in the English language. Keep practicing these structures in your professional emails to see the difference in your impact!

Rewrite a news article using clefts to change the focus of each paragraph.

Continue to: Habla con elegancia y drama: El arte de la inversión negativa

Práctica rápida (10)

Elige el pronombre relativo correcto para completar la oración "It-Cleft".

It was my new phone ___ I lost at the concert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
Dado que 'my new phone' es una cosa, 'that' es el pronombre relativo apropiado. 'Who' es para personas, y 'whose' indica posesión.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: It-Clefts en inglés: Enfatizando el objeto (It was the...)

¿Qué oración utiliza correctamente un 'it'-cleft?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is the team's effort that led to success.
La forma correcta es 'It is' para el singular 'It', seguido de la frase nominal enfatizada y el pronombre relativo 'that'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones escindidas con 'It' (It-Clefts): Añadiendo énfasis fuerte

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración 'it'-cleft.

Find and fix the mistake:

It were the unexpected results that surprised everyone.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was the unexpected results that surprised everyone.
'It' es un sujeto singular, por lo que requiere el verbo 'was' en pasado singular, no 'were'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones escindidas con 'It' (It-Clefts): Añadiendo énfasis fuerte

Corrige el error en la frase. ¡Recuerda la forma base del verbo!

Find and fix the mistake:

I did enjoyed the concert last night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I did enjoy the concert last night.
Después de 'did', el verbo principal siempre debe volver a su forma base, que es 'enjoy', no 'enjoyed'. ¡Es una regla de oro!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Énfasis: ¡*Sí* que me gusta! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración Wh-cleft.

Find and fix the mistake:

What he needs are a new perspective.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What he needs is a new perspective.
La frase enfatizada 'a new perspective' es singular, por lo que se debe usar el verbo 'is', no 'are'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Lo que necesitas es... (Oraciones escindidas con Wh- para énfasis)

Añade el auxiliar enfático correcto para el tiempo presente.

He ___ look like his brother, actually.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: does
Como 'He' es tercera persona del singular y estamos en presente, 'does' es la opción correcta. ¡No olvides el estrés al pronunciarlo!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Énfasis: ¡*Sí* que me gusta! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)

Elige la palabra correcta para completar el 'It-Cleft'.

It was in the park ___ we first met.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
'That' es la conjunción más versátil y funciona perfectamente aquí para introducir el resto de la cláusula después de enfatizar el lugar. ¡Un básico infalible!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones Hendidas con 'It' para Tiempo y Lugar: 'Fue entonces cuando...'

Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

It is last night that the concert was.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was last night that the concert was.
La frase original usa incorrectamente 'is' con un evento pasado ('last night', 'was'). El verbo 'be' en el 'It-Cleft' debe coincidir con el tiempo del evento descrito en la cláusula con 'that'. ¡Un error de nivel C1 que ya no cometerás!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones Hendidas con 'It' para Tiempo y Lugar: 'Fue entonces cuando...'

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración "It-Cleft".

Find and fix the mistake:

It were the students who organized the charity event.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was the students who organized the charity event.
El verbo to be en una It-Cleft siempre concuerda con It (singular), por lo que 'were' debería ser 'was'. El resto de la oración es correcto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: It-Clefts en inglés: Enfatizando el objeto (It was the...)

Elige la forma correcta para completar la oración Wh-cleft.

What I love about this city ___ its vibrant nightlife.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
La información enfatizada 'its vibrant nightlife' es un concepto singular, lo que requiere el verbo singular 'is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Lo que necesitas es... (Oraciones escindidas con Wh- para énfasis)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

No, no puedes, porque las oraciones negativas ya usan 'do' como auxiliar (por ejemplo, 'I do not like it'). Para enfatizar una negación, normalmente enfatizamos el 'not' o usamos un adverbio como 'really':
I really do NOT want to go
(De verdad que NO quiero ir).
¡Claro que sí! Es perfecto para dejar muy claro que completaste una tarea o para sonar súper sincero al disculparte. Por ejemplo:
We *did* review your application last week.
(Sí que revisamos tu solicitud la semana pasada).
El propósito principal es enfatizar la *única* acción, elemento o consecuencia de una situación, haciéndola el foco central de tu mensaje. Es como poner un foco sobre 'the one thing' que realmente importa.
Aunque 'I just did...' también puede restar importancia o enfatizar la inmediatez, 'All I did was...' destaca específicamente que la acción mencionada fue la *única* que se realizó. Conlleva un sentido más fuerte de totalidad o limitación.
La función principal es poner una parte específica de la oración en un foco nítido, haciéndola destacar como la información más importante. Ayuda a enfatizar una idea, objeto, acción o razón.
What I want to convey is clarity.
Las Wh-clefts reestructuran una oración para resaltar cierta información que normalmente aparecería más tarde. Por ejemplo, 'I want coffee' se convierte en 'What I want is coffee', poniendo énfasis en 'coffee'."
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