Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
It-clefts move the object to the front to highlight it as the most important piece of new information.
- Start with 'It' + 'be' (It is/was) to introduce the focus: 'It was the cake...'
- Place the object you want to emphasize immediately after 'be': '...the cake...'
- Connect the rest of the sentence with 'that' or 'who': '...that I ate.'
Overview
It-cleft（It強調構文）は、文中の特定の要素を強調するために文構造を意図的に組み替える、非常に洗練された高度な表現手法です。C1レベルを目指す学習者にとって、この構文を自在に操れるようになることは、単なる文法知識の習得を超えて、読み手や聞き手の注意を戦略的にコントロールする「レトリックの力」を身につけることを意味します。日本語には、文末に「～なのは、Aだ」という形式を置くことで強調する「分裂文」に近い概念がありますが、英語のIt-cleftは、文の冒頭にIt is/wasというダミーの主語を置くことで、強調したい情報を文の先頭に引き出すという、非常に英語らしい構造を持っています。It is/wasとthat節の間に挟み込むことで、その要素が文中で最も重要であることを示します。これは、単なる情報の伝達ではなく、「他の何でもなく、これこそが重要である」という強い主張や、誤解を訂正する際の論理的な強調として機能します。例えば、ビジネスシーンで「最終報告書を提出した」と言う際、単に The team submitted the final report と言うのと、It was the final report that the team submitted と言うのでは、相手に与える印象が全く異なります。後者は、報告書以外のものではなく、まさにその報告書こそが提出されたものであるという焦点を明確にします。この微妙なニュアンスの差を理解し、使い分けることが、プロフェッショナルな英語コミュニケーションにおける鍵となります。It-cleftによる目的語の強調は、文を二つの部分に分けることで成り立ちます。一つはIt is/wasに続く「強調したい要素（Focus）」であり、もう一つはthat節で表される「すでに相手が知っている、あるいは文脈として共有されている情報（Presupposition）」です。この構造の面白い点は、日本語の「～なのは…だ」という形式と非常に似ていることです。例えば、日本語の「私が昨日読んだのは、その興味深い記事です」という文を英語に直すと It was that insightful article that I read yesterday. となります。日本語では「～のは」という形で主語を提示しますが、英語ではthat節がその役割を担います。that節の中は目的語が欠落した状態（不完全な節）になります。これは、元の文から目的語を抜き取って前方に移動させたという構造上の痕跡です。日本人学習者が特に注意すべきは、It is/wasの時制の一致です。日本語では時制が文末に集中しますが、英語のIt-cleftでは、It is/wasの時制が文全体の時間軸を決定するため、ここを間違えると文脈が崩れます。この構文は、単なる強調だけでなく、論理的な対比を作る際にも極めて強力です。例えば、「彼が選んだのはAではなくBだった」と言いたいとき、It was B that he chose, not A. とすることで、論理的な対比が非常に鮮明になります。It-cleftの目的語強調は、以下のパターンに従います。このパターンを定着させることで、複雑な文を瞬時に強調構文へ変換できるようになります。It |was |the final report |that |the team submitted |- 1元の文:
The team submitted the final report. - 2目的語の抽出:
the final report - 3構文の構築:
It was [the final report] that [the team submitted].
It was the invoice that I sent last week, not the estimate. と答えることで、誤解を即座に正すことができます。We analyzed the data, consulted the experts, and finally reached a conclusion. It was this conclusion that changed our entire strategy. のように、長い前置きの後で、最も伝えたい核心部分をIt-cleftで提示することで、聞き手の注意を強く引きつけることができます。これは、就活の面接での自己PRや、会議での提案において、自身の主張を際立たせるためのプロレベルのテクニックです。また、感情的な重みを加える際にも使われます。例えば、It was your support that kept me going during the project. と言えば、単に Your support kept me going. と言うよりも、感謝の深さや事態の深刻さが強調されます。- 1目的語の二重配置:
It was the report that I submitted it.と、that節の中に本来の目的語itを残してしまうミスです。これは、日本語が「目的語を省略しなくても通じる」言語であるため、英語の「関係代名詞節内は不完全である必要がある」というルールを忘れてしまうことに起因します。 - 2時制の不一致:
It is the decision that he made yesterday.と、isとyesterdayが衝突するミスです。日本語は時制が文末に寄るため、文頭のIt is/wasを機械的にisにしてしまう傾向があります。yesterdayがあるならIt wasにすべきです。 - 3関係代名詞の過剰使用:
It was the book which that I read.のように、関係代名詞を二重に使う、あるいは不適切な関係代名詞を使うミスです。日本語には関係代名詞がないため、接続詞thatと関係代名詞のthatの混同が起きやすいのです。
It-cleftと似た強調表現として「倒置法（Inversion）」がありますが、その役割は異なります。Never have I seen such a disaster.（倒置）は感情的な強調ですが、It was this disaster that I had never seen before.（It-cleft）は、特定の事象を指し示す論理的な強調です。状況に応じてこれらを使い分けることが、C1レベルの英語力です。It-cleftで which を使ってもいいですか？that の方が自然で好まれます。which はやや硬く、古風な響きがあるため、特別な理由がない限り that を推奨します。who を使えますか？It was John who helped me. は非常に一般的です。ただし、目的語の役割を強調する場合、フォーマルな文脈では whom も使われますが、現代英語では who や that で十分です。It-cleftを使いすぎるとどうなりますか？Structure of an It-Cleft
| Intro (Dummy Subject) | Verb 'Be' | Focus (Object) | Relative Pronoun | Rest of Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
It
|
is
|
the truth
|
that
|
I seek.
|
|
It
|
was
|
him
|
who
|
called you.
|
|
It
|
wasn't
|
the money
|
that
|
she wanted.
|
|
It
|
might be
|
the weather
|
that
|
is the problem.
|
|
It
|
has been
|
his ego
|
that
|
has held him back.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
It is
|
It's
|
Informal/Neutral speech
|
|
It was
|
N/A
|
Rarely contracted in writing
|
|
It is not
|
It isn't / It's not
|
Common in speech
|
|
It was not
|
It wasn't
|
Common in speech
|
Meanings
A grammatical structure used to focus on a specific element of a sentence (the 'cleft' or 'split' part) by placing it after 'It is' or 'It was'.
Contrastive Focus
Used to correct a misunderstanding or contrast two items.
“It wasn't the money that I wanted; it was the recognition.”
“It was Sarah who called, not Jennifer.”
New Information Introduction
Introducing a specific object as the key topic of a narrative.
“It was a small mistake that led to the entire system failure.”
“It is this specific gene that scientists are targeting.”
Emotive Emphasis
Adding emotional weight to the object of an action.
“It was your kindness that saved me.”
“It is her bravery that we should celebrate.”
Reference Table
| 元の文のタイプ | 強調される要素 | It-Cleftの構造（目的語強調） | 例文 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
単純な能動態
|
直接目的語（物）
|
It is/was + Object + that + S + V...
|
It was `the new software` that we installed.
|
|
単純な能動態
|
直接目的語（人）
|
It is/was + Object + who/that + S + V...
|
It was `my professor` who I consulted.
|
|
前置詞を伴う
|
前置詞の目的語
|
It is/was + Object + that + S + V + Prep...
|
It was `their innovative ideas` that I was most impressed by.
|
|
受動態（動作主）
|
動作主
|
It is/was + Agent + who/that + V + Object...
|
It was `the lead engineer` who designed the system.
|
|
情報を明確にする
|
具体的な詳細
|
It is/was + Detail + that + S + V...
|
It was `your feedback` that truly helped me improve.
|
|
「What」の質問に答える
|
回答（物）
|
It is/was + Answer + that + S + V...
|
It was `the forgotten password` that caused the login issue.
|
|
「Who」の質問に答える
|
回答（人）
|
It is/was + Answer + who/that + S + V...
|
It was `my colleague, Dr. Lee`, who presented the findings.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
It was the manager who made the final decision. (Workplace accountability)
It was the manager that decided. (Workplace accountability)
It was the manager who did it. (Workplace accountability)
It was the boss man who called the shots. (Workplace accountability)
It-Cleft：目的語の強調
構造
- It is/was + OBJECT 強調される要素
- + that/who/which 節をつなぐ
- + Subject + Verb... 文の残りの部分
使用法
- 新しい情報を強調する 重要な詳細を紹介する
- 誤解を訂正する 間違った前提を明確にする
- 「Wh-」の質問に答える 「What/Who」に直接答える
- ドラマ/インパクトを加える 主張を力強くする
重要な注意点
- It is/was は常に単数 動詞は「It」と一致
- who は人、that は物 関係代名詞の選択
- 使いすぎない インパクトを維持する
It-Cleft：主語と目的語の強調
目的語を強調するIt-Cleftの作り方
文の直接目的語を強調したいですか？
強調する目的語は人ですか？
元の主語と動詞は何ですか？
例: 'She wrote `the best-selling novel`.'
It-Cleftがあなたの論点を明確にする時
明確にする
- • 事実の間違いを訂正する
- • 「何が？」に直接答える
- • 特定の項目を強調する
インパクトを与える
- • 発言にドラマを加える
- • 強い感情を表現する
- • 重要な詳細に注意を引く
説得する
- • 主要な発見を提示する
- • 議論の焦点を移す
- • 論点を響かせる
レベル別の例文
It is the cat.
It is the cat.
It was my ball.
It was my ball.
It is the red one.
It is the red one.
It was her.
It was her.
It was the cake that I liked.
It was the cake that I liked.
It is the bus that we need.
It is the bus that we need.
It was the movie that was loud.
It was the movie that was loud.
It is the doctor who helps me.
It is the doctor who helps me.
It was the rain that ruined our picnic.
It was the rain that ruined our picnic.
It is the truth that matters most.
It is the truth that matters most.
It wasn't the gift that I wanted.
It wasn't the gift that I wanted.
Was it the noise that woke you up?
Was it the noise that woke you up?
It was the lack of communication that led to the breakup.
It was the lack of communication that led to the breakup.
It is the innovative design that sets this phone apart.
It is the innovative design that sets this phone apart.
It was only after the meeting that I realized the mistake.
It was only after the meeting that I realized the mistake.
It isn't the salary that attracts me to this job.
It isn't the salary that attracts me to this job.
It was the sheer audacity of his claim that stunned the audience.
It was the sheer audacity of his claim that stunned the audience.
It is the systemic inequality that we must address first.
It is the systemic inequality that we must address first.
It was not so much the content as the delivery that failed.
It was not so much the content as the delivery that failed.
It is the nuances of the language that take years to master.
It is the nuances of the language that take years to master.
It was the very fabric of society that seemed to be unraveling.
It was the very fabric of society that seemed to be unraveling.
It is the juxtaposition of these two themes that creates the tension.
It is the juxtaposition of these two themes that creates the tension.
It was his unwavering commitment to the cause that eventually bore fruit.
It was his unwavering commitment to the cause that eventually bore fruit.
It is not the destination but the journey that defines us.
It is not the destination but the journey that defines us.
間違えやすい
Both are used for emphasis, but they start differently. Learners often mix up the 'It' and 'What' starts.
Learners use 'There' to emphasize a specific object because 'There' also introduces things.
Both move the object, but the passive voice changes the verb form and focus on the action's recipient.
よくある間違い
There is the book I want.
It is the book I want.
It the cat.
It is the cat.
It is me book.
It is my book.
Is it the dog?
It is the dog.
It was the cake I like.
It was the cake that I liked.
It was the man which saw me.
It was the man who saw me.
It is the keys that are lost.
It is the keys that are lost.
It was the rain what stopped us.
It was the rain that stopped us.
It is the money I am worried.
It is the money that I am worried about.
Was it the film you saw?
Was it the film that you saw?
It were the results that surprised us.
It was the results that surprised us.
It was to London that he went to.
It was to London that he went.
It is him that should go.
It is he who should go.
文型パターン
It was ___ that ___.
It is not ___ but ___ that ___.
Was it ___ who ___?
It must have been ___ that ___.
Real World Usage
It was my previous role at Google that prepared me for this challenge.
It's your birthday we're celebrating, so you choose the place!
It was the defendant whom I saw entering the building.
It's the hypocrisy that I can't stand.
It is this specific variable that we will be testing today.
It was the latest update that caused the glitch on your device.
誤解を訂正する時に
No, it was the blue car that I said was mine, not the red one.使いすぎには注意！
WhoとThatの使い分け
さりげない説得力
It was this market trend that our analysis predicted は、単に予測を述べるよりも自信を持って聞こえますね。It is/was は常に単数形
Smart Tips
Use a negative it-cleft followed by an affirmative one.
Use an it-cleft to state your primary thesis or the main factor you will discuss.
Check that your verb 'be' is still singular ('was' or 'is').
Lengthen the 'was' or 'is' to add extra emphasis to the focus.
発音
Focus Stress
The word immediately following 'is' or 'was' receives the strongest pitch accent in the sentence.
Reduced 'that'
The word 'that' is usually reduced to a schwa sound /ðət/.
Emphasis Peak
It was SARAH (rise) that called (fall).
Indicates that Sarah is the specific person being identified.
暗記しよう
記憶術
IT IS the ITEM that matters.
視覚的連想
Imagine a theater stage where the lights are off. Suddenly, a bright spotlight (the 'It was') shines on a single actor (the 'Object') while everyone else stays in the dark.
Rhyme
To make the object shine so bright, start with 'It was' to give it light.
Story
A detective enters a room. He doesn't just say 'John stole the diamond.' He points his finger and shouts, 'It was JOHN who stole the diamond!' The 'It was' is his pointing finger.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write down three things you did today. Now, rewrite them as it-clefts to emphasize the most interesting object in each sentence.
文化メモ
It-clefts are frequently used in British political debates (Prime Minister's Questions) to deflect blame or highlight specific policy successes.
In scientific papers, it-clefts are used to avoid the first person 'I' while still emphasizing the specific cause of a result.
Hiberno-English often uses cleft-like structures more frequently than other dialects for added poetic emphasis.
The it-cleft construction has roots in Old English but became much more prominent in Middle English, likely influenced by the French 'C'est... que' structure.
会話のきっかけ
Was it the price or the quality that made you buy your phone?
In your opinion, is it luck or hard work that leads to success?
It was a specific moment that changed your life, wasn't it? Tell me about it.
Was it the ending of the last movie you saw that you disliked the most?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
It was my new phone ___ I lost at the concert.
Find and fix the mistake:
It were the students who organized the charity event.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesI bought the red shoes.
Which is correct?
It ___ the manager ___ I spoke to yesterday.
Find and fix the mistake:
It was the rain what caused the flood.
1. I love jazz. 2. He stole the car. 3. We need more time.
Speaker A: 'I heard you moved to Paris.' Speaker B: 'No, ___.'
that / it / her / was / kindness / us / saved
In an it-cleft, you can never use 'who' for people.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesIt ___ his dedication that truly impressed the judges.
It was the beautiful view who made our vacation unforgettable.
正しい文を選びましょう：
英語に翻訳しましょう: 'Fue tu consejo lo que realmente me ayudó.'
これらの単語を並べ替えて文にしてください：
強調される目的語と正しい関係代名詞を組み合わせましょう：
It was `the final decision` ___ everyone had been waiting for.
It was him that broke the vase.
正しい文を選びましょう？
英語に翻訳しましょう: 'Es a ti a quien debo agradecer por la ayuda.'
これらの単語を並べ替えて文にしてください：
元の文と、それに対応するIt-Cleftの文を組み合わせましょう：
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
In informal speech, 'that' is sometimes omitted if the focus is the object (e.g., 'It was the pizza I wanted'). However, in formal writing and at the C1 level, you should always include it.
While that is a grammatically correct standard sentence, it is not an 'it-cleft'. An it-cleft *must* start with the dummy subject 'It'. The 'It' represents the situation or the fact, which is why it stays singular.
In everyday English, 'me' (object pronoun) is standard. In very formal, traditional grammar, 'It was I who did it' (subject pronoun) is technically correct, but it sounds very archaic today.
The first (cleft) emphasizes that it was the *dog* and not the cat or the neighbor. The second is a neutral statement of fact.
Yes! You can say 'It will be the final exam that determines your grade.' The verb 'be' conjugates to any tense.
Yes, especially when we want to correct someone or express strong emotion. We use them to 'point' with our voice.
Surprisingly, 'which' is rarely used in it-clefts. 'That' is the standard choice for objects.
Simply make the verb 'be' negative: 'It wasn't the money that I lost.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Ser + [Focus] + que...
English requires the dummy subject 'It', whereas Spanish does not.
C'est... que/qui
French uses 'qui' for subjects and 'que' for objects strictly, while English often uses 'that' for both.
Es ist... der/die/das
German relative pronouns are much more complex than the English 'that'.
...no wa ... desu
The focus comes at the end of the sentence in Japanese, whereas it comes at the beginning in English.
Innama / Al-ladhi
Arabic relies on word order and specific particles rather than a 'split' sentence structure.
Shi... de (是...的)
The 'de' comes at the very end of the sentence, unlike the English 'that' which starts the second clause.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Continue With
関連動画
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