C1 · پیشرفته فصل 16

Using Cleft Sentences to Highlight Information

7 مجموع قواعد
81 مثال‌ها
6 دقیقه
قواعد این فصل تمرین سریع

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.

چی یاد می‌گیری

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.

راهنمای فصل

مرور کلی

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.

این گرامر چطور کار می‌کنه

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.

اشتباهات رایج

  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.

مکالمات واقعی

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.

سؤالات رایج

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.

بافت فرهنگی

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.

مثال‌های کلیدی (8)

1

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

من واقعاً اون سریال جدید نتفلیکس رو دوست دارم.

تأکید: من *واقعاً* دوستش دارم! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)
2

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

اون واقعاً در مورد بودجه حرف درستی می‌زنه.

تأکید: من *واقعاً* دوستش دارم! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)
3

All I want for Christmas is you.

تمام چیزی که برای کریسمس می‌خوام تویی.

تأکید جهانی: استفاده از 'All' برای تمرکز (All-Cleft)
4

All you need to do is sign here.

تمام کاری که باید بکنی اینه که اینجا رو امضا کنی.

تأکید جهانی: استفاده از 'All' برای تمرکز (All-Cleft)
5

What I need is a strong coffee right now.

چیزی که الان نیاز دارم، یه قهوه قویه.

آنچه نیاز داری این است... (جملات شکاف‌دار Wh- برای تاکید)
6

What I did was send the email to the wrong person.

کاری که من کردم این بود که ایمیل رو برای آدم اشتباهی فرستادم.

آنچه نیاز داری این است... (جملات شکاف‌دار Wh- برای تاکید)
7

What I did was order a pizza while waiting.

کاری که کردم این بود که موقع منتظر بودن، پیتزا سفارش دادم.

جملات شکاف‌دار Wh: افزودن هیجان به افعال
8

What she's doing is streaming the game live.

کاری که داره می‌کنه اینه که داره بازی رو زنده استریم می‌کنه.

جملات شکاف‌دار Wh: افزودن هیجان به افعال

نکات و ترفندها (4)

🎯

تاکید صوتی حرف اول رو میزنه!

اگه تو کلامت روی کلمه‌های do یا does یا did تأکید نکنی، جمله انگار فقط شلوغ و بی‌مورد میشه. پس با قدرت این فعل کمکی رو بگو! مثلاً:
I *did* tell you.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: تأکید: من *واقعاً* دوستش دارم! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)
🎯

تله 'Is'

حتی اگه چیزی که آخر جمله میاد جمعه (مثلاً کفش‌ها)، بومی‌زبان‌ها تقریباً همیشه 'is' یا 'was' استفاده می‌کنن. اینجوری تمرکز روی 'مفهوم واحد' کل خرید باقی میمونه.
All I bought is these shoes.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: تأکید جهانی: استفاده از 'All' برای تمرکز (All-Cleft)
💡

مثل یک "نورافکن" عمل می‌کنه

فکر کن میخوای یه قسمت خاص از جمله‌ات رو مثل نورافکن، روشن کنی. وقتی حس می‌کنی مهم‌ترین کلمه یا عبارت توی جمله‌ات داره گم میشه، از این ساختار استفاده کن تا بهش توجه بدی:
What I really want is honesty.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: آنچه نیاز داری این است... (جملات شکاف‌دار Wh- برای تاکید)
🎯

راز 'بدون to' بودن

توی انگلیسی مدرن، بعد از 'is/was' اون 'to' رو معمولاً حذف می‌کنیم. مثلاً
What I did was call him
خیلی طبیعی‌تر و باحال‌تره تا
What I did was to call him
.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات شکاف‌دار Wh: افزودن هیجان به افعال

واژگان کلیدی (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]

اشتباهات رایج

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

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

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

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

Avoid repeating the subject after the 'all' clause.

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

قواعد این فصل (7)

1

تأکید: من *واقعاً* دوستش دارم! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)

C1
do تأکیدی مثل یه قلم «بُلد» زدن شفاهیه که بهت کمک می‌کنه «حقیقت» رو روشن کنی، «پیش‌فرض‌ها» رو رد کنی یا با «ادب» و «صداقت» حرفت رو بگی.
I **do** love that new Netflix series.
10 مثال‌ها
2

تأکید جهانی: استفاده از 'All' برای تمرکز (All-Cleft)

C1
این ساختار 'All-cleft' مثل یه نورافکنه که فقط روی یه نکته خاص توی موقعیت تمرکز می‌کنه. انگار که فقط همون یه چیزه که تو داری بهش فکر می‌کنی، تنها عامل یا تنها موردیه که «اهمیت داره» یا «هدف» اصلیه.
`All I want is a break` from studying.
12 مثال‌ها
3

آنچه نیاز داری این است... (جملات شکاف‌دار Wh- برای تاکید)

C1
برای اینکه مهم‌ترین قسمت جمله‌ات رو «برجسته» کنی و توی انگلیسی «متقاعدکننده‌تر» به نظر بیای، از Wh-clefts استفاده کن.
What I really want for my birthday is a new gaming...
11 مثال‌ها
4

جملات شکاف‌دار Wh: افزودن هیجان به افعال

C1
از این ساختارها استفاده کن تا روی کارایی که کردی «نور» بندازی، اینجوری مکالمه‌ت هم «مؤثرتر» میشه هم «جذاب‌تر» و نشون میده که سطح انگلیسیت «واقعاً بالاست».
What I *really* want is a break from studying.
12 مثال‌ها
5

جملات شکاف‌دار (It-Clefts): افزودن تاکید قوی

C1
ساختار It-Cleft با گذاشتن فاعل بلافاصله بعد از It is یا It was یه dramatic focus (تمرکز دراماتیک) ایجاد می‌کنه.
It was *John* who forgot the keys.
12 مثال‌ها
6

It-Clefts انگلیسی: تاکید بر مفعول (It was the...)

C1
این it-cleft ها مثل یه نورافکن زبانی هستن که میندازی رو object جمله تا «توضیح» بدی، «مقایسه» کنی یا رو «جزییات خاص» تاکید کنی.
It was `the subtle changes` that I noticed first i...
12 مثال‌ها
7

جملات تأکیدی (It-Clefts) برای زمان و مکان: 'آن موقع بود که...'

C1
از It-Clefts استفاده کن تا یه when یا where رو highlight کنی و emphasis بذاری روش.
It was *at the local library* that I finally found...
12 مثال‌ها

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: Creating Drama with Negative Inversion

تمرین سریع (10)

فعل ربطی گمشده رو پر کن.

What she does ___ post a new reel every morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
فعل 'does' زمان حاله، پس فعل ربطی هم باید زمان حال باشه: 'is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات شکاف‌دار Wh: افزودن هیجان به افعال

جاهای خالی رو پر کن.

It was the rain ___ caused the power outage.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
برای اشیاء یا چیزهایی مثل rain، that انتخاب استاندارد و طبیعی‌ترین گزینه تو جملات cleft هست.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات شکاف‌دار (It-Clefts): افزودن تاکید قوی

اشتباه رو پیدا کن و اصلاحش کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

They were the kids who broke the window.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was the kids who broke the window.
حتی با یه فاعل جمع مثل kids، فاعل خالی It و فعل was/is باید مفرد باشن.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات شکاف‌دار (It-Clefts): افزودن تاکید قوی

جای خالی رو پر کن تا تاکید کامل بشه.

It ___ the lack of communication that caused the breakup.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
از 'was' استفاده می‌کنیم چون دلیل (the lack of communication) مفرده و اتفاق در گذشته افتاده.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: It-Clefts انگلیسی: تاکید بر مفعول (It was the...)

اشتباه رو توی این جمله cleft پیدا و درست کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

What happened is I lost my keys yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What happened was I lost my keys yesterday.
چون اتفاق توی گذشته رخ داده ('yesterday')، فعل ربطی باید 'was' باشه نه 'is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات شکاف‌دار Wh: افزودن هیجان به افعال

اشتباه جمله رو پیدا کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

It were in the 90s that fashion was really weird.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in the 90s that fashion was really weird.
حتی اگه زمان ('90s') جمع باشه، فاعل صوری 'It' همیشه فعل مفرد 'was' رو می‌گیره.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات تأکیدی (It-Clefts) برای زمان و مکان: 'آن موقع بود که...'

فعل جاافتاده رو پر کن تا ساختار cleft کامل بشه.

What I love about this city ___ the nightlife.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
'The nightlife' یک مفهوم مفرده، بنابراین برای ارتباط بین بند Wh و نقطه تاکید از 'is' استفاده می‌کنیم.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: آنچه نیاز داری این است... (جملات شکاف‌دار Wh- برای تاکید)

جمله رو کامل کن تا روی لحظه خاص تأکید بشه.

It was ___ I saw the bill that I realized I was broke.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
'That' ضمیر موصولی استانداردیه که برای همه It-clefts استفاده میشه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: جملات تأکیدی (It-Clefts) برای زمان و مکان: 'آن موقع بود که...'

فعل کمکی تأکیدی صحیح رو برای زمان حال اضافه کن.

He ___ look like his brother, actually.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: does
چون فاعل He سوم شخص مفرد و زمان حاله، does گزینه صحیحه.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: تأکید: من *واقعاً* دوستش دارم! (Emphatic Do/Does/Did)

جاهای خالی رو با شکل صحیح فعل پر کن.

All she did yesterday ___ watch Netflix.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
چون بخش 'relative clause' (she did) در زمان گذشته است، فعل 'to be' هم باید در زمان گذشته (was) باشه تا با هم هماهنگ بشن.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: تأکید جهانی: استفاده از 'All' برای تمرکز (All-Cleft)

Score: /10

سوالات رایج (6)

نه، چون جملات منفی خودشون به do نیاز دارن. برای تأکید روی یه جمله منفی، معمولاً روی کلمه not تأکید می‌کنیم یا از really استفاده می‌کنیم (مثلاً:
I really do NOT want to go
).
بله! خیلی خوبه برای شفاف‌سازی اینکه یه کاری انجام شده یا برای نشون دادن صداقت تو یه عذرخواهی. مثلاً:
We **did** review your application last week.
'All' به این معنیه که اون چیز *تنها* چیزیه که می‌خوای. 'What' خنثی‌تره و لزوماً بقیه چیزها رو کنار نمی‌ذاره. مثلاً،
All I want is coffee
یعنی هیچ چیز دیگه‌ای نمی‌خوام و این تنها خواسته‌مه.
نه، برای این ساختار تاکیدی خاص، نه.
Everything I want is you
یه جمله عادیه، اما اون حس تاکید و 'cleft' رو که با 'All' شروع میشه، نداره و به اندازه 'All' قدرتمند نیست.
نه، 'What' برای آدم‌ها استفاده نمیشه. به جای اینکه بگی 'What I saw was John,' بهتره بگی 'The person I saw was John.' اینجوری خیلی طبیعی‌تر به نظر میاد.
آره، 'All I need' خیلی محدودکننده‌تر و احساسی‌تره. این یعنی هیچ چیز دیگه‌ای مهم نیست جز اون یه دونه چیز. مثلاً: 'All I need is your love.'
فصل قبلی
چطور مثل یک حرفه‌ای از پس تغییرات و چالش‌ها بربیای
فصل بعدی
Creating Drama with Negative Inversion
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