Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
It-clefts split a sentence in two to highlight one specific piece of information, making it the 'star' of the sentence.
- Start with 'It' + 'be' (It is/was) to introduce the focus. Example: 'It was Sarah who won.'
- Follow the focus with a relative clause starting with 'that' or 'who'. Example: 'It was the dog that barked.'
- Ensure the verb 'be' matches the tense of the original action. Example: 'It is today that we leave.'
Overview
it，配合系动词 be，将句子拆解为“已知信息”和“强调信息”。It was John who broke the window 时，你其实预设了一个前提：有人打破了窗户（这是已知信息），而你现在要揭晓这个“某人”到底是谁（这是焦点信息）。- 1引导词
It：这里的it是一个没有任何实际意义的占位符，它不指代具体的物体，仅仅是为了引出后面的强调内容。在中文里，我们没有这种“虚位主语”的概念，所以很多同学会下意识想用This或That，这是需要特别注意的。 - 2系动词
be：它的时态通常取决于原句的时态。如果是过去发生的事，就用was；如果是现在的情况，就用is。 - 3被强调部分（Focus）：这是你想要重点突出的内容。它可以是主语、宾语、状语（时间、地点、原因、方式等），甚至是介词短语。注意：谓语动词本身不能直接被强调（强调动词通常用
do/does/did）。 - 4关系代词/连接词：最常用的是
that，它几乎是万能的。如果强调的是人，也可以用who。在某些语境下，也会用到when或where，但在标准分裂句中，that是最稳妥的选择。
The marketing team launched the new campaign on WeChat yesterday.It + is/was + [被强调的部分] + that/who + [句子的其余部分]- 强调主语（是谁做的）：
It was the marketing team who/that launched the new campaign on WeChat yesterday.- 强调宾语（做了什么）：
It was the new campaign that the marketing team launched on WeChat yesterday.- 强调地点状语（在哪里做的）：
It was on WeChat that the marketing team launched the new campaign yesterday.- 强调时间状语（在什么时候做的）：
It was yesterday that the marketing team launched the new campaign on WeChat.It is ... that | It is her talent that impresses us. |It was ... that | It was the rain that ruined the party. |It has been ... that | It has been Sarah who has managed the project. |It will be ... that | It will be the CEO who makes the final call. |It 永远配合单数形式的 be 动词。即使强调的是 my parents，也要说 It was my parents who...，绝对不能说 They were my parents who...。这是中国学生最容易犯的错误之一。- 场景：在微信群里，老板以为是小王迟到了。
- 表达：
Actually, it was the subway delay that caused my lateness, not my alarm clock. - 中文逻辑：其实，是地铁延误导致我迟到的，不是闹钟没响。
- 场景：讨论某个项目的成功因素。
- 表达：
It is your unwavering support that made this achievement possible. - 中文逻辑：正是因为有你的坚定支持，才让这项成就成为可能。（暗示没有你的支持就不行）
- 场景：在学术论文中分析数据。
- 表达：
While many factors contribute to global warming, it is the emission of greenhouse gases that remains the primary driver. - 中文逻辑：虽然有很多因素导致全球变暖，但温室气体排放依然是主要诱因。
- 场景：在朋友圈抱怨天气。
- 表达：
It’s not the heat that I mind; it’s the humidity! - 中文逻辑：我介意的不是热，而是这该死的湿度！
They were the students who organized the protest.It was the students who organized the protest.It 改成 They。记住，这里的 It 是语法引导词，它永远是单数。这就像中文里我们说“是学生们组织的”，而不会说“他们是学生们组织的”。that/who (Omitting the Complementizer)It was in 2019 I first visited London.It was in 2019 that I first visited London.that 或 who 是结构的支柱，不能省略（除非在极少数非正式口语中，但在 C1 级别的写作中必须保留）。It is my brother who took your umbrella yesterday.It was my brother who took your umbrella yesterday.was。中国学生因为母语中动词没有时态变化，经常会在这种细节上丢分。It + be + Focus + that/who... | What ... is/was + Focus |It was a new car that he bought. | What he bought was a new car. |What he did was (to) buy a car.) |What I need is a cup of coffee）则更自然。which 来代替 that 吗？which 有时是可以接受的，但在分裂句的习惯用法中，that 远远比 which 更常见。为了保证地道，建议首选 that。如果是人，who 和 that 都可以。It wasn't me!（不是我！）就是一个最简单的分裂句变形。但在写作中，它确实能显著提升文章的逻辑严密性。It is because... that... 吗？It was because he was so persistent that he finally won the contract.（正是因为他的坚持，他最终赢得了合同。）这比简单的 He won the contract because he was persistent 要有力得多。It was I who called you.。但在现代非正式口语中，宾格更常见：It was me who called you.。作为 C1 级别的学生，你应该能够根据场合灵活切换：考试和正式报告用主格，日常聊天用宾格。It is... that... 的框架里。你会发现，你的话语瞬间变得更有分量了！Tense Variations of It-Clefts
| Tense | It + Be | Focus | Relative Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
It is
|
the money
|
that matters.
|
|
Past Simple
|
It was
|
the money
|
that mattered.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
It has been
|
the money
|
that has caused the trouble.
|
|
Future Simple
|
It will be
|
the money
|
that decides the winner.
|
|
Modal (Possibility)
|
It might be
|
the money
|
that he wants.
|
|
Negative Past
|
It wasn't
|
the money
|
that I lost.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
It is
|
It's
|
Very common in speech and informal writing.
|
|
It was
|
It'was (Non-standard)
|
Rarely contracted in standard English.
|
|
It is not
|
It isn't / It's not
|
Both are common; 'It's not' is slightly more frequent.
|
|
It was not
|
It wasn't
|
Standard contraction for past negative.
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction used to focus on a specific constituent (subject, object, or adverbial) by placing it after 'It + be'. It effectively 'cleaves' (splits) a simple sentence into two parts to create contrast or emphasis.
Subject Focus
Emphasizing the person or thing performing the action.
“It was the rain that ruined our picnic.”
“It is my sister who usually handles the finances.”
Object Focus
Emphasizing the person or thing receiving the action.
“It was the red car that he bought, not the blue one.”
“It is her honesty that I admire most.”
Adverbial Focus (Time/Place)
Emphasizing when, where, or how something happened.
“It was in Paris that they first met.”
“It is only now that I realize my mistake.”
Reference Table
| 原句 | 强调部分 | 强调句结构 | 效果 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I bought the book yesterday.
|
The book
|
It was *the book* that I bought yesterday.
|
强调买了什么。
|
|
Sarah helped me with my project.
|
Sarah
|
It was *Sarah* who helped me with my project.
|
强调是谁帮了忙。
|
|
They finished the task quickly.
|
Quickly
|
It was *quickly* that they finished the task.
|
强调做事的方式（状语）。
|
|
We met at the coffee shop.
|
At the coffee shop
|
It was *at the coffee shop* that we met.
|
强调见面的地点。
|
|
He resigned because of stress.
|
Because of stress
|
It was *because of stress* that he resigned.
|
强调原因。
|
|
You ordered the wrong item.
|
The wrong item
|
It was *the wrong item* that you ordered.
|
纠正对宾语的误解。
|
正式程度
It was John who shattered the window. (Reporting an incident)
It was John that broke the window. (Reporting an incident)
It was John who did it. (Reporting an incident)
It was John who messed up the window. (Reporting an incident)
强调句：能量加持！
结构
- It + be 句子的开头
- 强调部分 视觉焦点
- that/who/which 连接词
- 其余部分 背景信息
何时使用
- 纠错 修正误解
- 新信息 引入惊喜事实
- 戏剧性 增加情感强度
- 澄清 解释原因
强调句 vs. 普通句
构建强调句的步骤
你想突出句子的哪个部分？
主动词是什么时态？
强调的对象是人吗？
把焦点放在 'It is/was' 之后，连接词之前。
现代语境中的强调句
数字生活
- • Instagram 配文
- • 游戏语音聊天
- • 给朋友发短信
职场表现
- • Zoom 面试
- • 大学项目汇报
- • 正式邮件
日常生活
- • 咖啡馆闲聊
- • Netflix 字幕
- • 点外卖时的备注
按水平分级的例句
It is my book.
It is my book.
It is me!
It is me!
It is cold today.
It is cold today.
It is a big dog.
It is a big dog.
It was my mom who called.
It was my mom who called.
It is the blue pen I want.
It is the blue pen I want.
It was 10 PM when they left.
It was 10 PM when they left.
It is not my fault.
It is not my fault.
It was the movie that made her cry.
It was the movie that made her cry.
It is in London that the story happens.
It is in London that the story happens.
It was because of the rain that we stayed home.
It was because of the rain that we stayed home.
It is her smile that I like most.
It is her smile that I like most.
It was only last week that I found out.
It was only last week that I found out.
It is the government that should take action.
It is the government that should take action.
It was with great difficulty that he finished the race.
It was with great difficulty that he finished the race.
It is not what he said, but how he said it.
It is not what he said, but how he said it.
It was through sheer persistence that she succeeded.
It was through sheer persistence that she succeeded.
It is not until we lose someone that we appreciate them.
It is not until we lose someone that we appreciate them.
It was the lack of transparency that the public resented.
It was the lack of transparency that the public resented.
It is I who am responsible for this oversight.
It is I who am responsible for this oversight.
It was but a moment ago that the world seemed simple.
It was but a moment ago that the world seemed simple.
It is precisely this ambiguity that the poet exploits.
It is precisely this ambiguity that the poet exploits.
It might well have been the stress that triggered the illness.
It might well have been the stress that triggered the illness.
It is seldom that one encounters such genuine talent.
It is seldom that one encounters such genuine talent.
容易混淆
Both add emphasis, but Wh-clefts start with 'What' and focus on the whole clause.
Learners sometimes use 'There' as a dummy subject when they should use 'It'.
Both can shift focus to the object.
常见错误
Is John who called.
It is John who called.
It was the cats that was hungry.
It was the cats that were hungry.
It was the book which I liked.
It was the book that I liked.
It is I who is the winner.
It is I who am the winner.
句型
It was ___ who ___.
It is ___ that ___.
It was not until ___ that ___.
It is with ___ that I ___.
Real World Usage
It was my time at Google that really shaped my approach to coding.
It's not you, it's me.
It is this discrepancy in the data that warrants further investigation.
Actually, it was the diet coke that I ordered, not the regular.
It's the little things that count. ✨
It was the defendant whom I saw entering the building.
It is our priority to ensure your data remains safe.
It's the next turning on the right that you need.
一眼看穿焦点
It was the book that I bought yesterday.
别用力过猛！
It was for her relentless dedication that she received the award.
连接词也要变通
It was Sarah who helped me with my project.
口语里的核武器
优雅地澄清误会
It was only after reviewing all the evidence meticulously that the jury reached its verdict.
Smart Tips
Use a negative it-cleft followed by a positive one.
Use an it-cleft to define the specific problem you are solving.
Remember that 'It' stays singular even if the focus is plural.
Keep the preposition with the focus, not at the end of the sentence.
发音
Focus Stress
In an it-cleft, the word immediately following 'is' or 'was' receives the strongest pitch accent.
Falling Intonation on Focus
It was the CAKE ↘ that I wanted.
Conveys finality and correction of a previous statement.
记住它
记忆技巧
Remember 'IT IS THE FOCUS': It + Is + The Focus + that...
视觉联想
Imagine a theater stage. The whole stage is the sentence. The 'It is' is the spotlight operator, and the 'Focus' is the actor standing in the bright light while the rest of the sentence stays in the shadows.
Rhyme
If you want to make a point and make it hit, start your sentence with the word 'It'!
Story
John was accused of stealing a cookie. He didn't say 'I didn't do it.' He pointed at the dog and said, 'It was the DOG that ate the cookie!' The emphasis saved him from trouble.
Word Web
挑战
Look at the last three sentences you wrote. Rewrite one of them as an it-cleft to change the emphasis.
文化笔记
It-clefts are frequently used in British political debates to sound more assertive and precise.
Clefting is extremely common in Ireland, often used even when no strong emphasis is intended, influenced by the Irish language structure.
In scientific papers, it-clefts are used to highlight specific findings or variables without using 'I' or 'We'.
The cleft construction has roots in Old English but became much more prominent in Middle English as the language moved away from case endings toward fixed word order.
对话开场白
Was it your parents who chose your name?
Is it the salary or the work-life balance that matters more to you?
Was it a specific book that changed your way of thinking?
Is it the culture or the food that you enjoy most when traveling?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
It was my friend ___ told me the news.
Find and fix the mistake:
It were the unexpected results that surprised everyone.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /4
练习题
8 exercisesIt ___ my brother ___ told me the news.
Select the correct option:
Find and fix the mistake:
Correct the verb agreement.
Rewrite the sentence.
You can use 'which' as a relative pronoun in an it-cleft.
A: Did Mary buy the cake? B: No, ___.
What is being emphasized?
1. I love her voice. 2. He lost his keys. 3. They met at the park.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesIt ___ her determination that made all the difference.
It is the strict deadline miss that often.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '正是她的投入保证了项目的成功。'
Arrange these words into a sentence: 'the meeting / that / was cancelled / it was / the sudden illness / because of'
将开头与强调部分匹配，组成正确的强调句：
It was *at the cafe* ___ we first met.
It is him who is responsible for the error.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '打动委员会的不是团队的规模，而是研究的质量。'
Arrange these words into a sentence: 'making you sad? / it's / what / that / is'
Score: /11
常见问题 (8)
Yes, in spoken English and informal writing, `It's` is very common. However, in formal academic writing, you should use the full `It is` or `It was`.
In formal English, `It is I` is technically correct. In modern, everyday English, almost everyone says `It is me`. If you use `I`, the following verb must be `am` (`It is I who am...`), which sounds very old-fashioned.
Absolutely! You can say, `It will be the voters who decide the outcome.` The verb `be` can be conjugated into any tense.
Normal sentences are fine, but they don't provide focus. `John called` is a fact. `It was John who called` implies 'It wasn't Peter or Sarah; it was specifically John.'
Yes, in very formal writing when the focus is an object. `It was he whom the committee chose.` However, `that` is much more common.
Yes. `It was because I was tired that I made the mistake.` This is a great way to emphasize a reason.
Yes, in this specific structure, `It` is a 'dummy subject' or 'expletive it'. It doesn't refer to anything; it just holds the spot for the verb.
In informal speech, yes, if it's the object. `It was the red one (that) I wanted.` But it's better to keep it for clarity.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Es... que / Fue... quien
English requires the dummy subject 'It'.
C'est... qui/que
French uses 'C'est' for almost all emphasis, whereas English has more variety.
Es ist... der/die/das
Word order in the relative clause follows German rules (verb-final).
〜のは〜だ (no wa... da)
Japanese doesn't use a dummy subject like 'It'.
إنما (Innama) / هو الذي (Huwa alladhi)
Arabic relies on particles and word order rather than a dummy subject construction.
是...的 (shì... de)
The 'de' comes at the end of the sentence in Chinese, unlike the 'that' clause in English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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