Life

Advanced Unit 5a(1)

Emphatic structures (1): cleft sentences

A: Hello. What would you like today?

B: Actually, what happened was that I was walking
past your window when I saw your advert for part-
time staff.
A: Right. It’s the manager you need to see about that,
but she isn’t here at the moment. Basically, what
you have to do is fill in this application form and
she’ll call you.
B: Thanks. So, what’s the job like?
A: Well, the hours are long but the thing I like is the
free lunch …

Presentation

A cleft sentence is a sentence which is divided (cleft Cleft sentences with it

means divided) into two parts. The introductory part of Use it + is/was + emphasized language + relative clause:
the sentence often uses the words what, it or the thing +
You need to see the manager. → It’s the manager (who)
the verb be:
you need to see.
I like the free lunch. → What I like is the free lunch.
You sign your name on this line. → It’s on this line (that)
The free lunch is what I like. you sign your name. (= not the one above/below it)
It’s the free lunch I like. You don’t normally include the pronoun (who, that) in
The thing I like is the free lunch. these cleft sentences.

Cleft sentences with what Cleft sentences with the thing

• Use what … be / … be what to emphasize the noun: Cleft sentences with the thing … is/was can emphasize:
What I like is / are* the free lunches. • the noun: I like the holidays. → The thing I like is the
The free lunches is / are* what I like. holidays.
* Notice that both is and are are possible when the noun • the verb: Talk to the manager. → The best thing to do
is plural. is talk to the manager.
• Use what … do / did + be to emphasize the verb:
Cleft sentences with place, person, reason or way
 in this application form. → What you do is fill in
Fill You can make other cleft sentences that introduce and
this application form. emphasize information about a place, person, reason or
 applied for a new job. → What he did was* apply
He how something was done. The construction is the same
for a new job. as for cleft sentences with the thing.
* Notice that when the verb in the what clause is in the The place (where) he works is a fast food restaurant.
past, the verb to be is also in the past. The person (who) you need to see is the manager.
 se what happened + be to emphasize the rest of the
• U The reason (why) I’m here is because I saw the advert in
sentence: your window.
I was walking past when I saw your advert in the The way to do this is by filling in this form.
window. → What happened was (that) I was walking
past your window when I saw your advert for
part-time staff.

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 Advanced Unit 5a(1)
Exercises

Exercises
1 Match 1–5 with A–E.
1 What I like A I like.
2 What he did was B is the long holidays.
3 It’s the long holidays C I like is the long holidays.
4 What you need is D a long holiday.
5 The thing E take a long holiday.
2 Rewrite the first sentence as a cleft sentence.
1 I love the French fries in this restaurant.
What I love about this restaurant is the French fries .
2 Sign your name here and here.
What you and here.
3 My brother has to wear a uniform and check everyone’s identity.
What my brother has and check everyone’s identity.
4 There was a sudden crash and all the lights went out.
What happened and all the lights went out.
5 They need to tell their teacher not me.
It , not me.
6 I want to hear the facts, not everyone’s opinion!
It , not everyone’s opinion.
7 I like the special effects in this movie.
The thing I like the special effects.
8 You need to see the manager about your complaint.
The person you need to see about your complaint .
9 I’m waiting because I’d like to get tickets for the concert.
The reason I’m waiting tickets for the concerts.
3  Read the conversations. Speaker B corrects speaker A using cleft sentences. Write B’s
sentences using the words in brackets. Then listen and check.
1 A: Doesn’t Martin build model cars?
B: No. What Martin builds are aeroplanes. (what / builds / aeroplanes)
2 A: Do I put this in the oven now?
B: No. (what / do / in the fridge)
3 A: Did they take the wrong train?
B: No. (what happened / the wrong bus)
4 A: We need to call an electrician.
B: No. (it / plumber / call)
5 A: We can’t afford to go to the museums in London. It’ll be so expensive.
B: No, it won't.
(the good thing about museums in London / they / free)
6 A: The car’s broken down. Call the police!
B: No. (the person / need to call / a mechanic)
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