C1 Sentence Structure 21 min read Hard

It-Clefts for Time and Place: 'It was then that...'

It-Clefts for time and place spotlight key details, adding emphasis and clarity to your communication.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'It + be + [Time/Place] + that' to put a linguistic spotlight on exactly when or where something happened.

  • Start with 'It' plus the verb 'to be' in the correct tense. Example: 'It was...'
  • Insert the time or place you want to emphasize. Example: 'It was in Paris...'
  • Connect the rest of the sentence using 'that'. Example: '...that we first met.'
It + 🐝 (be) + ⏰/📍 + 🌉 (that) + 📝 (rest of sentence)

Overview

Start sentences with 'It is' or 'It was'. This shows a time or place. It makes that part very important. It tells people where to look. This helps you control your message.

This helps you speak better English. You can show what is important. Instead of 'I met him yesterday', say 'It was yesterday that I met him'. This makes the time very clear.

This tells the person that the time or place is the main point.

How This Grammar Works

You split one sentence into two parts. Start with the word 'It'. Then use 'is' or 'was'. Put the time or place right after that. This shows the main information first.
Next, use 'that', 'when', or 'where'. Then say the rest of the sentence. This makes the first part the most important part.
Look at 'I went to Paris in 2010'. Now look at 'It was in 2010 that I went to Paris'. Now the year is very special. The year is more important than the trip.

Word Order Rules

You must use a special order of words. This helps people understand you. Here is the way to do it:
It + is or was + Time or Place + that or when or where + Rest.
Let's dissect each component:
  • It: This is always the introductory subject of the cleft sentence and always remains singular. It functions as an empty or dummy subject, similar to its use in sentences like It is raining or It is important to study. It carries no referential meaning but serves as a grammatical placeholder to initiate the sentence.
  • be verb: The verb be immediately follows It and must be conjugated to agree with it (which is always singular). Crucially, its tense (is for present, was for past) must align with the tense of the main verb in the subsequent that/when/where` clause. This ensures temporal coherence across the two parts of the cleft.
| Old sentence time | Word to use | Example |
| :------------------------- | :----------------- | :------------------------------------------- |
| Present Simple (sees) | is | It is today that he sees her. |
| Past Simple (saw) | was | It was yesterday that I saw him. |
| Present Perfect (has gone)| is | It is recently that he has gone there. |
| Past Perfect (had left) | was | It was just then that she had left. |
| Future (will arrive) | is | It is tomorrow that they will arrive. |
  • [Emphasized Time or Place Phrase]: This is the core element you wish to highlight. It can take several forms:
  • Adverb: then, here, today, yesterday, now. Example: It was then that the lights went out.
  • Prepositional Phrase: in the office, at 5 p.m., on Monday, under the bridge, during the storm. Example: It is in the office that we hold our meetings.
  • Noun Phrase: Less common for time/place directly, but possible with temporal nouns: It was last year that the project began.
  • Time Clause: (when clause used as a noun phrase): It was when he called that I understood. (This is a slightly more complex use, often bordering on a Wh-cleft, but can emphasize the time of understanding).
  • that / when / where: This acts as a subordinator, connecting the initial It is/was clause with the rest of the sentence.
  • that: This is the most versatile and generally safe choice, suitable for both time and place emphasis. It maintains a neutral tone. Example: It was in Berlin that they first met.
  • when: Specifically used when emphasizing a time element. It often feels more natural than that in such contexts, especially in spoken English. Example: It was on Tuesday when the announcement was made.
  • where: Specifically used when emphasizing a place element. Similar to when, it can sound more idiomatic for locative emphasis. Example: It was at the cafe where we usually meet.
  • Omission: In very informal spoken English, that, when, or where can sometimes be omitted, particularly after simple time adverbs (It was yesterday I saw her). However, for clarity, especially in written or more formal communication, it is strongly recommended to include it.
  • [Rest of the Clause]: This is the remaining part of the original sentence, now functioning as a dependent clause. It contains the subject and verb (and any other objects/complements) that were not part of the emphasized time or place phrase. The emphasized element should not be repeated here. For example, if in the park is emphasized, you wouldn't say It was in the park that I saw her in the park. You'd say It was in the park that I saw her.

Formation Pattern

1
Find the part you want to show. Move it to the start of the sentence. This gives that information a special place.
2
Follow these steps to make your sentence stronger:
3
Start with a normal sentence. It has all the facts.
4
Example: I saw the rare bird near the old oak tree.
5
Choose the time or place you want to show. This is your main part.
6
In our example, the place element is near the old oak tree.
7
Start with 'It'. Use 'was' for the past. Use 'is' for now.
8
The old word is 'saw'. That is the past. So start with 'It was'.
9
Put the time or place after 'It is' or 'It was'.
10
Combining: It was near the old oak tree...
11
Add 'that', 'when', or 'where'. 'When' is for time. 'Where' is for places.
12
Using where: It was near the old oak tree where...
13
Add the rest of the sentence. Do not say the time or place again.
14
The rest of the sentence is: 'I saw the bird'.
15
Final It-Cleft: It was near the old oak tree where I saw the rare bird.
16
Let's try another example, focusing on time:
17
Normal sentence: She finished her work on Friday.
18
Important time: on Friday.
19
It happened in the past. So use 'It was'.
20
Now we have: 'It was on Friday...'
21
For time, use 'when'. Now we have: 'It was on Friday when...'
22
Add the rest: 'It was on Friday when she finished her work.'
23
Final It-Cleft: It was on Friday when she finally submitted her thesis.
24
Use these steps to make good sentences. Practice makes it easy. You can show the time and place well.

When To Use It

These sentences show important information. They help people understand you better. This is good for advanced English.
  • Correcting Misconceptions or Providing Clarification: This is one of the most frequent and impactful uses. When someone has incorrect information about a time or location, an It-Cleft allows you to politely but firmly set the record straight by highlighting the correct detail.
  • Scenario: Someone believes a meeting was moved to Wednesday.
  • Response: No, it was on Tuesday that the meeting was rescheduled, not Wednesday.
  • Scenario: A colleague mistakenly thinks the new policy was announced last month.
  • Response: Actually, it was just last week when the new policy was announced.
  • Introducing New or Crucial Information with Prominence: When you want to ensure a listener or reader registers a particular temporal or locative detail as highly important or novel, an It-Cleft draws immediate attention to it.
  • Scenario: Describing a key turning point in a historical event.
  • Statement: It was in 1989 that the Berlin Wall fell, forever changing the geopolitical landscape.
  • Scenario: Revealing a critical discovery.
  • Statement: It was deep within the Amazon basin where the new species was identified.
  • Narrative Structuring and Storytelling: In narratives, whether casual anecdotes or formal accounts, It-Clefts can be used to mark significant moments or settings, creating suspense, highlighting causality, or simply guiding the listener through the story's progression.
  • Scenario: Recounting a personal experience.
  • Narrative: I was lost in the city, feeling completely overwhelmed. It was then that I saw the familiar landmark, and I knew I was saved.
  • Scenario: Describing a memorable event.
  • Narrative: We searched for hours, almost giving up hope. It was just under the old bridge where we finally found the missing artifact.
  • Creating Dramatic or Stylistic Effect: Beyond mere information transfer, It-Clefts can imbue a sentence with a sense of drama, intensity, or rhetorical force. They can make a statement sound more profound or create a sense of revelation.
  • Scenario: A moment of sudden realization.
  • Statement: It was only much later that I fully grasped the implications of his warning.
  • Scenario: Emphasizing a fateful location.
  • Statement: It was at the crossroads where destiny intervened.
  • Clarifying Ambiguity: If there's potential confusion about the precise timing or location of an event, an It-Cleft can be employed to eliminate doubt and provide unequivocal clarity.
  • Scenario: Ensuring everyone knows the exact time for a project submission.
  • Statement: Just to be clear, it is at 5 PM on Friday that all reports must be uploaded.
  • Scenario: Pinpointing the correct venue for an overflow event.
  • Statement: Due to unforeseen demand, it is in Hall B where the additional seating will be provided.
  • Formal and Academic Contexts: In academic writing, presentations, and other formal settings, the precision and emphasis offered by It-Clefts can be highly valuable. They allow researchers to highlight specific findings, historical dates, or geographical locations with authority, ensuring that key data points are not overlooked.
  • Academic Writing: It was in the early 21st century that digital humanities emerged as a distinct academic discipline.
  • Presentation: Our data indicates that it was within the controlled experimental environment where these anomalies first appeared.
Use these sentences to speak better English. They show what is important. People will listen to the time and place.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes these sentences are hard. Many people make mistakes. Learn these mistakes to speak correctly.
  • Incorrect be Verb Tense: This is perhaps the most frequent error. The be verb (is or was) in the It-Cleft must always match the tense of the main verb in the original, un-clefted sentence. Learners sometimes incorrectly use is even when the original action happened in the past.
  • Incorrect: It is last night that I saw him. (Here, is is present, but saw is past.)
  • Correct: It was last night that I saw him. (Both was and saw are past tense.)
  • Why it's wrong: The be verb in the It-Cleft establishes the temporal context for the entire event described. A mismatch creates a confusing temporal discrepancy.
  • Overuse and Unnatural Repetition: While It-Clefts are effective for emphasis, using them too frequently makes writing sound stilted, overly formal, or even pedantic. English speakers typically use these structures strategically, not in every other sentence.
  • Example of Overuse: It was yesterday that I went to the store. It was there that I met an old friend. It was then that we decided to get coffee.
  • Correction: Integrate simple sentences and other structures for variety. Yesterday, I went to the store and met an old friend. It was then that we decided to get coffee.
  • Why it's wrong: It violates the natural rhythm and varied sentence structure characteristic of fluent English, signaling a lack of stylistic control.
  • Emphasizing Non-Time/Place Elements: This specific cleft structure is designed solely for time and place. Attempting to emphasize a person, object, or action with It was [person/object] that... is a different type of It-Cleft (or a Wh-Cleft for actions) and will confuse the function.
  • Incorrect: It was John that I saw at the party. (While grammatically possible as an object cleft, it's not It-Cleft for Time and Place and often sounds less natural than It was John who I saw...).
  • Focus for this rule: Ensure the emphasized phrase directly answers when or where. If you want to emphasize who or what, use the appropriate cleft (e.g., It was the manager who signed the document).
  • Why it's wrong: It misapplies the specific emphasis function of this particular It-Cleft type, leading to miscommunication of intent.
  • Confusion with Simple Adverbial Fronting: Learners sometimes assume that It-Clefts are interchangeable with simply moving a time or place phrase to the front of a sentence (Yesterday, I went to the market). While both add some emphasis, the communicative force is different.
  • Simple Fronting: On Monday, we usually have our team meeting. (Adds mild emphasis, sets context).
  • It-Cleft: It is on Monday that we usually have our team meeting. (Stronger, more explicit focus; implies contrast or new information).
  • Why it's wrong: It underestimates the heightened degree of emphasis and specific pragmatic functions that It-Clefts convey, leading to a weaker or less precise communicative impact.
  • Omitting the Subordinator (that/when/where) in Formal Contexts: While occasionally acceptable in very informal spoken English, consistently omitting that, when, or where can make your sentences sound less complete or less formal, particularly in writing or academic discourse.
  • Informal (spoken): It was last week I saw him. (Possible, but less formal)
  • Preferred (written/formal): It was last week that I saw him.
  • Why it's wrong: It can reduce clarity and signals a lack of command over formal written conventions.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Learn how these sentences are different. Some look the same but mean different things. Use the right one.
  • Simple Declarative Sentences: The most fundamental contrast. A simple sentence states facts neutrally, without any specific emphasis on a particular element.
  • I finished the report at midnight. (Neutral statement of fact).
  • It was at midnight that I finished the report. (Highlights the time, perhaps to explain why you're tired, or to contrast with an earlier expected completion time).
These sentences show new time or place information. Simple sentences just tell a basic fact.
  • Other Types of It-Clefts (Emphasizing Subject or Object): English employs It-Clefts to emphasize various sentence constituents, not just time and place. These have a similar It is/was X that/who... structure but differ in the type of X emphasized and the choice of subordinator.
  • It was the CEO who approved the merger. (Emphasizing the subject, a person; uses who).
  • It was the new software that caused the system crash. (Emphasizing the subject, a thing; uses that).
  • It was her proposal that they ultimately adopted. (Emphasizing the object, a thing; uses that).
  • It was at the conference that we met the CEO. (Emphasizing place; uses that).
Choose the right word for what is important. Use 'who' for people. Use 'when' for time.
  • Wh-Clefts (or Pseudo-Clefts): These structures begin with a Wh-word (what, where, when, why, how, who) acting as the subject of the initial clause, typically emphasizing an action or an idea/thing, often with a focus on what is needed or what happened.
  • What I need is a strong cup of coffee. (Emphasizes the thing needed, not the time/place).
  • What he did was apologize immediately. (Emphasizes the action performed).
  • Where we met was at the old library. (While it emphasizes a place, the structure Where X was Y is distinct from It was X where Y and often implies a specific location among choices, rather than a corrective emphasis).
Some sentences show the action. These sentences show the time or place instead.
  • Adverbial Fronting: This involves moving an adverbial phrase (of time, place, or manner) to the beginning of a sentence. While this does add some emphasis to the fronted element, it does so less explicitly and with less grammatical weight than an It-Cleft.
  • Yesterday, I saw her at the market. (Mild emphasis on Yesterday, setting the temporal context).
  • At the market, I saw her yesterday. (Mild emphasis on At the market, setting the locative context).
Moving words is soft. Using 'It is' makes the time or place very strong.
| Type | Simple | Words First | Other Types | What Sentences | Time Sentences |
| :----------------------- | :------------------------- | :------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :---------------------------- | :-------------------------- |
| How Strong | Low | Medium | High | High | High (Time and Place) |
| Important Part | None | First words | Person or thing | The action | The time or place |
| How to Write | Normal order | Words first | It is X that | What... is X | It is time that |
| Why Use It | Say facts | Show context | Show who or what | Show action | Show time or place |
| Example | He arrived in 2020. | In 2020, he arrived. | It was he who arrived. | What he did was arrive. | It was in 2020 that he arrived. |

Real Conversations

It-Clefts for Time and Place are not confined to academic texts; they are a vibrant part of modern spoken and written English across various registers. Observing their use in authentic contexts helps solidify your understanding of their practical application.

- University Group Project (Online Chat):

- A: I thought the deadline was next Tuesday?

- B: No, it's this Friday that we have to submit the proposal, remember? Let's check the syllabus again.

- Analysis: Used to correct a misconception about the submission deadline, emphasizing this Friday.

- Social Media Post (Instagram Caption):

- Found this gem! ✨ It was right here in this little bookstore where I first discovered my passion for literature. So many memories! #nostalgia #bookworm

- Analysis: Emphasizes the specific location as a pivotal point in their personal history, adding emotional weight to the narrative.

- News Report (TV Interview):

- Interviewer: When did the company decide on the new strategy?

- CEO: Well, it was after extensive market research that we finalized the new direction, not before the initial projections.

- Analysis: The CEO uses the cleft to highlight the process that led to the decision, emphasizing the timing of the strategy finalization.

- Casual Conversation (with friends at a café):

- Friend 1: I can't believe we haven't seen each other since university.

- Friend 2: I know! It was at that terrible freshman dorm party that we first properly talked. Good old times.

- Analysis: Used to recall and emphasize the specific, memorable location of their first meaningful conversation.

- Work Email (Clarifying a meeting schedule):

- Subject: Important: Project Alpha Meeting Room Change

- Dear Team, please note that it is in Conference Room 3 that our Project Alpha meeting will now be held at 10 AM tomorrow, not Room 1.

- Analysis: Ensures that the crucial change in meeting location is immediately apparent and clearly understood, preventing attendance errors.

- Online Forum/Discussion Board (Responding to a query):

- User A: When was the bug fix officially released? I can't find it.

- User B: It was earlier this morning when the patch went live. Check the announcements channel.

- Analysis: Provides precise temporal information as an immediate and helpful answer to a direct question.

These examples illustrate the versatility of It-Clefts for Time and Place in modern communication, allowing speakers and writers to achieve clarity, emphasis, and narrative impact in both informal and formal contexts.

Quick FAQ

Here are short answers to common questions about these sentences:
  • Q: Can I always use that as the subordinator?
  • A: Yes, that is the most versatile option for both time and place. However, when for time and where for place often sound more natural and idiomatic in conversation.
  • Q: Is It is or It was always required at the beginning?
  • A: Absolutely. The it + be structure is an integral and non-negotiable part of forming this type of cleft sentence. The be verb's tense must match the original sentence's main verb.
  • Q: What if I want to emphasize a person or a thing, not time or place?
  • A: For emphasizing people or things (subjects or objects), you would use a slightly different type of It-Cleft (e.g., It was John who broke the vase; It was the vase that he broke). This specific rule focuses solely on time and place.
  • Q: Can I use contractions like it's or it was?
  • A: Yes, contractions are perfectly acceptable and common, especially in informal and semi-formal contexts. Using them makes your speech and writing sound more natural and conversational.
  • Q: What's the main difference from just moving the time/place phrase to the front of the sentence?
  • A: Moving a phrase to the front (Last night, I saw him.) adds some emphasis and sets context. An It-Cleft creates a significantly stronger, more explicit focus on the time or place, often implying contrast, correction, or heightened importance. It's a more deliberate rhetorical choice.
  • Q: Are these structures common in spoken English, or only in writing?
  • A: They are very common in both spoken and written English. You'll hear them frequently when people are correcting information, clarifying details, telling stories, or adding a dramatic flair to their speech.
  • Q: Is this structure only for C1 learners?
  • A: While It-Clefts can be introduced at lower levels, mastering the nuances of when to use them effectively for specific emphasis on time and place, and understanding their pragmatic functions in varied contexts, is definitely a skill indicative of C1 proficiency.

Tense Variations of the It-Cleft

Tense It + Be Focus (Time/Place) Connector Clause
Present Simple
It is
in the city
that
he works.
Past Simple
It was
in 1995
that
they met.
Present Perfect
It has been
since May
that
we've waited.
Future
It will be
at the gala
that
she'll perform.
Past Negative
It wasn't
until then
that
I knew.
Past Question
Was it
in Rome
that
it happened?

Contractions in Clefts

Full Form Contraction Usage Note
It is
It's
Common in speech/informal writing
It was
N/A
Rarely contracted in standard English
It is not
It isn't / It's not
Standard negative contractions
It was not
It wasn't
Standard past negative contraction

Meanings

A construction used to focus on a specific piece of information (the focus) by placing it in a separate clause starting with 'It is' or 'It was'.

1

Temporal Emphasis

Highlighting a specific moment or period in time to show its significance to the event.

“It was in 1969 that man first walked on the moon.”

“It is only now that we are seeing the results of the policy.”

2

Locative Emphasis

Focusing on a specific location to contrast it with other possible places.

“It was in this very room that the treaty was signed.”

“It is in the heart of the city that the most vibrant markets are found.”

3

Corrective Focus

Using the cleft structure to explicitly correct a previous statement about time or place.

“No, it was on Tuesday that I sent the email, not Wednesday.”

“It wasn't in London that they stayed, but in a small village nearby.”

Reference Table

Reference table for It-Clefts for Time and Place: 'It was then that...'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
It + be + Focus + that...
It was in June that we married.
Negative
It + be + not + Focus + that...
It wasn't here that I left it.
Interrogative
Be + it + Focus + that...?
Was it then that you decided?
Time Focus
It + be + [Time Phrase] + that...
It was at noon that he arrived.
Place Focus
It + be + [Place Phrase] + that...
It is in Spain that they live.
Contrastive
It + be + [X, not Y] + that...
It was in 2010, not 2011, that it began.
Modal
It + modal + be + Focus + that...
It must have been then that she saw us.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
It was in the boardroom that the executive committee convened.

It was in the boardroom that the executive committee convened. (Professional meeting)

Neutral
It was in the boardroom that we had the meeting.

It was in the boardroom that we had the meeting. (Professional meeting)

Informal
It was in the boardroom that we met up.

It was in the boardroom that we met up. (Professional meeting)

Slang
It was in the boardroom where it all went down.

It was in the boardroom where it all went down. (Professional meeting)

The Anatomy of an It-Cleft

It-Cleft

The Dummy

  • It Placeholder subject

The Tense

  • is/was Verb to be

The Focus

  • Time/Place The emphasized info

The Bridge

  • that Relative connector

Standard vs. Cleft Sentence

Standard (Neutral)
We met in Paris. Simple statement of fact.
It-Cleft (Emphasized)
It was in Paris that we met. Focuses on the location.

Should I use an It-Cleft?

1

Do you want to emphasize a specific detail?

YES
Go to next step
NO
Use a standard sentence.
2

Is the detail a Time or Place?

YES
Use 'It was [Time/Place] that...'
NO
Consider a Wh-cleft or Noun cleft.

Common Focus Phrases

⏰

Time

  • • In the morning
  • • Only then
  • • Not until 1999
  • • During the war
📍

Place

  • • In this very room
  • • At the station
  • • Under the bridge
  • • In London
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Examples by Level

1

It is here that I work.

2

It was then that he left.

3

It is in the box that the toy is.

4

It was at 5:00 that we ate.

1

It was in Paris that they met.

2

It wasn't at home that I saw her.

3

Was it on Monday that you called?

4

It was in the garden that we played.

1

It was only after the rain that we went out.

2

It is in this office that the decisions are made.

3

It was during the summer that I learned to swim.

4

It wasn't until midnight that the party started.

1

It was in the 1920s that the building was constructed.

2

It is primarily in rural areas that the problem exists.

3

It was only when I saw the photo that I remembered him.

4

It was through this door that the thief entered.

1

It was against this backdrop of economic instability that the revolution began.

2

It is in the nuances of the language that the true meaning is found.

3

It was not until the final chapter that the mystery was solved.

4

It was there, amidst the ruins, that they found the ancient scroll.

1

It was only upon the cessation of hostilities that reconstruction could commence.

2

It is within the intersection of technology and ethics that our greatest challenges lie.

3

It was then, and only then, that the gravity of his error became apparent.

4

It is in the very fabric of our society that these prejudices are woven.

Easily Confused

It-Clefts for Time and Place: 'It was then that...' vs Wh-Clefts

Learners often use 'What' when they should use 'It' to focus on a specific time/place.

It-Clefts for Time and Place: 'It was then that...' vs There is/are

Confusing the existential 'There' with the dummy 'It'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Is here that I live.

✓

It is here that I live.

You must include the 'It' as a subject.
✗

It was in 1990 when I was born.

✓

It was in 1990 that I was born.

While 'when' is used in speech, 'that' is the standard cleft connector.
✗

It is in London that I met him.

✓

It was in London that I met him.

The tense of 'be' must match the time of the event (past).
✗

It was because of the rain that caused the delay.

✓

It was the rain that caused the delay. / It was because of the rain that the delay happened.

Avoid 'double subjects' or redundant phrasing within the cleft.

Sentence Patterns

It was in ___ that I first ___.

It was only after ___ that I realized ___.

It is within ___ that the true ___ lies.

Real World Usage

Job Interview common

It was during my time at Google that I developed these skills.

Texting a Friend occasional

It was only when I got home that I saw your message!

Academic Essay very common

It was in the 19th century that industrialization transformed the city.

Police Report common

It was at approximately 10 PM that the witness heard the noise.

Travel Blog common

It is in the hidden alleys of Kyoto that you find the best tea.

Social Media occasional

It was here that it all started! #memories

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🎯

The 'That' Rule

When in doubt, always use 'that'. While 'when' and 'where' are common in speech, 'that' is never wrong in a cleft sentence and sounds more polished.
⚠️

Don't Overuse

If every sentence is a cleft sentence, your writing will sound exhausting and overly dramatic. Save them for your most important points.
💡

Tense Check

Always check your main verb. If the action is past ('met'), the cleft must be past ('It was').
💬

Correcting People

Clefts are the politest way to correct someone. 'Actually, it was on Tuesday...' sounds less aggressive than 'No, you're wrong, it was Tuesday.'

Smart Tips

Use the negative it-cleft followed by the positive one for maximum clarity.

No, I moved in 2010, not 2011. → It wasn't in 2011, but in 2010 that I moved.

Use an it-cleft to define the scope of your research.

This paper discusses the 18th century. → It is within the context of the 18th century that this paper operates.

Try 'clefting' your time or place adjuncts to add variety to your rhythm.

The accident happened here. → It was here that the accident happened.

Place these words immediately after 'is/was' for the strongest effect.

I realized it only then. → It was only then that I realized it.

Pronunciation

It was in LONdon that I met him.

Stress on the Focus

The word or phrase immediately following 'It is/was' receives the strongest sentence stress.

/ðət/

Weak 'that'

The word 'that' is usually reduced to a schwa sound /ðət/.

Rise-Fall on Focus

It was in ↗PARis ↘that we met.

Conveys certainty and emphasis on the location.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

IT is the spotlight, BE is the stand, THAT is the bridge to the rest of the land.

Visual Association

Imagine a dark stage where a single spotlight (the 'It was') shines on a clock (Time) or a map (Place). Everything else on stage is in the dark until the word 'that' connects them.

Rhyme

If you want to show where or when, start with 'It was' and use 'that' then.

Story

A detective is interrogating a suspect. The suspect says 'I was at home.' The detective slams the table and says, 'No! It was AT THE BANK that you were seen!' The 'It was' makes the detective's point much stronger.

Word Web

EmphasisFocusInformation PackagingDummy SubjectRelative ClauseContrast

Challenge

Look at your calendar. Pick three events from last week and rewrite them as it-clefts. (e.g., 'It was on Tuesday that I went to the gym.')

Cultural Notes

It-clefts are very common in British academic prose to maintain an objective but focused tone.

In US political rhetoric, it-clefts are used to create 'soundbites' that emphasize specific values or locations.

Hiberno-English often uses cleft-like structures more frequently than other dialects for everyday emphasis.

Clefting has been a feature of English since the Old English period, though it became much more structured in Middle English.

Conversation Starters

“

Was it in your hometown that you had your first job?

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Was it only recently that you decided to master English?

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In which decade was it that your country saw the most change?

Journal Prompts

Describe a life-changing moment. Use at least three it-clefts to emphasize when and where it happened.
Write a short historical summary of a city you love. Focus on key dates using cleft sentences.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Complete the cleft sentence focusing on the time.

I graduated in 2015. -> It was in 2015 ___ I graduated.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
'That' is the standard relative pronoun for it-clefts.
Select the grammatically correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly emphasizes the location?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in London that I was born.
Requires 'It', 'was' (past tense), and 'that'.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

It is in 1945 that the war ended.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
Since the war ended in the past, we must use 'was'.
Transform the sentence into an it-cleft focusing on the underlined part: 'We first met *at a concert*.' Sentence Transformation

We first met at a concert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was at a concert that we first met.
This correctly uses the it-cleft structure for a past event.
Is the following statement true or false? True False Rule

In formal writing, 'that' is preferred over 'where' in it-clefts for place.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
'That' is the standard formal relative pronoun for all it-clefts.
Choose the best response to emphasize the correction. Dialogue Completion

Person A: 'I heard you're moving to Spain in July.' Person B: 'Actually, ___'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: it is in August that I'm moving.
Uses present tense 'is' for a future/planned event and emphasizes the correct month.
Which of these is a correctly formed it-cleft for place? Grammar Sorting

Identify the correct structure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in the park that I lost my keys.
Follows the It + Be + Focus + That pattern perfectly.
Reorder the words: [that / it / in / was / 2020 / we / started] Sentence Building

Reorder the words to form a cleft sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in 2020 that we started
Standard it-cleft word order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Complete the cleft sentence focusing on the time.

I graduated in 2015. -> It was in 2015 ___ I graduated.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
'That' is the standard relative pronoun for it-clefts.
Select the grammatically correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly emphasizes the location?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in London that I was born.
Requires 'It', 'was' (past tense), and 'that'.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

It is in 1945 that the war ended.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
Since the war ended in the past, we must use 'was'.
Transform the sentence into an it-cleft focusing on the underlined part: 'We first met *at a concert*.' Sentence Transformation

We first met at a concert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was at a concert that we first met.
This correctly uses the it-cleft structure for a past event.
Is the following statement true or false? True False Rule

In formal writing, 'that' is preferred over 'where' in it-clefts for place.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
'That' is the standard formal relative pronoun for all it-clefts.
Choose the best response to emphasize the correction. Dialogue Completion

Person A: 'I heard you're moving to Spain in July.' Person B: 'Actually, ___'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: it is in August that I'm moving.
Uses present tense 'is' for a future/planned event and emphasizes the correct month.
Which of these is a correctly formed it-cleft for place? Grammar Sorting

Identify the correct structure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in the park that I lost my keys.
Follows the It + Be + Focus + That pattern perfectly.
Reorder the words: [that / it / in / was / 2020 / we / started] Sentence Building

Reorder the words to form a cleft sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in 2020 that we started
Standard it-cleft word order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the `It-Cleft` for place. Fill in the Blank

It was at the cafe ___ I saw her reading your book.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
Complete the `It-Cleft` for time. Fill in the Blank

It was on her birthday ___ he proposed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

It were a Sunday that they arrived.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was a Sunday that they arrived.
Find and fix the mistake. Error Correction

It's next week when the deadline is gone.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's next week that the deadline is.
Which sentence correctly uses an `It-Cleft` to emphasize time? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was in 1999 that the company was founded.
Which sentence correctly uses an `It-Cleft` to emphasize place? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's at the corner where the new shop is opening.
Type the correct English sentence using an `It-Cleft` for time. Translation

Translate into English: 'Foi só depois da palestra que ela fez a pergunta.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["It was only after the lecture that she asked the question."]
Type the correct English sentence using an `It-Cleft` for place. Translation

Translate into English: 'É no jardim que as crianças brincam.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["It is in the garden that the children play.","It's in the garden that the children play.","It is in the garden where the children play.","It's in the garden where the children play."]
Put the words in order to form a correct `It-Cleft`. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was at the airport that they said goodbye
Rearrange the words to form a grammatically correct `It-Cleft`. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was then that I finally realized my mistake
Match the beginning of the `It-Cleft` with the correct emphasized phrase. Match Pairs

Match the clauses:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Match the simple sentence to its `It-Cleft` equivalent emphasizing time or place. Match Pairs

Match the sentences:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, in informal speech it is very common to hear `It was then when...`. However, in formal writing and exams, `that` is the preferred and safer choice.

You can use any tense of the verb `to be`. For example, `It has been in this house that we've raised our children` or `It will be at the meeting that we decide`.

An it-cleft starts with `It` (e.g., 'It was John who...'), while a pseudo-cleft (or Wh-cleft) starts with a Wh-word (e.g., 'What I need is...'). It-clefts are better for focusing on specific nouns/times/places.

Absolutely. `It wasn't in London that we met` is a very common way to correct someone's assumption.

Because the word `it` doesn't refer to anything specific (like a cat or a book). It is just a grammatical placeholder to allow the sentence to function.

No, it can be a long phrase. `It was only after three years of intensive research and many failures that the cure was found.`

Yes, especially when we want to be emphatic or when we are correcting someone. It adds a clear 'beat' to the sentence that draws attention.

Yes, for people, `who` is very common and accepted even in formal English. `It was Sarah who told me.`

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Fue entonces cuando / Es allí donde

English requires the dummy 'It', whereas Spanish starts with the verb 'Fue/Es'.

French high

C'est... que

French uses this structure much more frequently in everyday speech than English does.

German moderate

Es war... dass

German word order is more flexible, making clefts less 'necessary' for focus.

Japanese low

...no wa ... da

The structure is reversed: [Action] no wa [Time/Place] da.

Arabic low

Innama / Word order

Arabic lacks a 'dummy subject' equivalent to the English 'It'.

Chinese moderate

Shi... de (是...的)

The 'de' comes at the very end of the sentence, unlike the English 'that' which acts as a bridge.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
English It-Clefts: Emphasizing the Object (It was the...)

Learn These First

C1 Builds On

It-Clefts: Adding Strong Emphasis

Overview It-cleft sentences are a powerful rhetorical device in English, fundamentally restructuring a statement to **fo...

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