1

CÂU CHẺ

A. Định nghĩa
- Được dùng để nhấn mạnh một trong các thành phần nhất định của câu như trạng ngữ, tân ngữ hay
chủ ngữ hay một đối tượng, một sự việc đáng chú nào nào đó trong câu.
- Gồm 2 vế tạo thành câu, bao gồm 1 mệnh đề chính và 1 mệnh đề phụ, nối với nhau bằng that/ who/
whom …..
B. Cấu trúc
B1. It - Cleft sentences
1. Câu chẻ nhấn mạnh chủ ngữ
Ex
It is/was + chủ ngữ (người) + who/that + V

It is/was + chủ ngữ (vật) + that + V

János Irinyi invented the non-explosive match in 1836.

=> It was János Irinyi who/that invented the non-explosive match in 1836.
The film made me depressed.
=> It was the film that made me depressed.
2. Câu chẻ nhấn mạnh tân ngữ
Ex
It is/was + tân ngữ (người) + that/whom + S + V

It is/was + tân ngữ (vật) + that + S + V

John sent her a letter last Monday.

=> It was her that/ whom John sent a letter last Monday. They destroyed the tallest building yesterday.
=> It was the tallest building that they destroyed yesterday.
3. Câu chẻ nhấn mạnh trạng ngữ (thời gian, nơi chốn, cách thức, lý do,…)
Ex
It is/was + trạng ngữ + that + S + V + O

I am going on holiday in August.

=> It is in August that I am going on holiday. She met him at Cambridge University.
=> It was at Cambridge University that she met him. You can improve your vocabulary range by
reading more.
=> It is by reading more that you can improve your vocabulary range.
4. Câu chẻ bị động
Ex
It + is / was + Noun (vật) + that + be + PII

It + is / was + Noun / pronoun (người) + who + be + PII

To Hoai wrote this book.

 => It was this book that was written by To Hoai.
They gave the artist many flowers.
=> It was the artist who was given many flowers.
Lưu ý
 Khi chủ ngữ được nhấn mạnh là danh từ số nhiều, ta sử dụng động từ số nhiều, nhưng mệnh đề It
+ be vẫn phải chia số ít.
Ex: It is the parents who were protesting most.
 Ta có thể dùng phủ định ở mệnh đề It Ex: It wasn’t the Greek student who phoned.
Động từ khuyết thiếu trong câu chẻ
Ta có thể sử dụng động từ khuyết thiếu trong câu chẻ để nhấn mạnh
 It might be my phone that you hear ringing.
 It must have been his mother who taught him how to grow sunflowers.
 It could have been Mrs. Smith that I met.
B2. Wh-Cleft sentences
Cấu trúc chung: What + S + V + is
(Ta có thể thay what bằng các từ để hỏi khác như why, where, how, etc.)
Ex
A: I don’t know what to cook for them? I don’t know what they like. B: What they like is smoked
salmon.
A: This remote control isn’t working.
B: What we need to do is get new batteries for it.
PRACTICE
Choose the best answers for the following questions
Question 1. I bought the golden fish.
A. It was from this shop that B. I was from this shop where
C. It was this shop which D. It was this shop that
Question 2. It was Tom to help us.
A. comes B. that comes C. to come D. who came
Question 3. the police had rescued from the fire.
A. The baby B. The baby that
C. It was the baby whom D. The baby whom
Question 4. my parents gave me the fish tank.
A. It was on my birthday when B. It was my birthday on that
C. It was my birthday that D. It was on my birthday that
Question 5. I first met my girlfriend.
A. It was in London that B. It was in London where
C. It was London that D. It was London which
Question 6. on the phone.
A. It is his mother whom is B. It was his mother whom is
C. It was his mother who is D. It is his mother who is
Question 7. a high level of blood cholesterol.
A. It is eggs that contain B. Those are eggs it contains
C. It is eggs that contains D. It is eggs contain
Question 8. England won the World Cup.
A. It was in 1966 that B. It was on 1966 that
C. It was in 1966 when D. It was 1966 in that
Question 9. we all look for.
A. It is happiness that B. That happiness
C. Happiness it is that D. Happiness it is
Question 10. me how to play the drum.
A. It was my uncle who taught B. My uncle who taught
C. It was my uncle taught D. It is my uncle teaching
Question 11. we need to do now is reduce air pollution levels.
A. It B. What C. Where D. Why
Question 12. is happiness and peace.
A. What he needed B. What needs
C. What he needing D. What he needs
Question 13. was sent to Mr. Jang yesterday.
A. It was the bill which B. It was the bill that
C. It is the bill that D. The bill was that
Question 14. It was Tom who by a strange man on his way home.
A. attacked B. attacking C. was attacked D. he attacked
Question 15. he left was unknown.
A. This B. Why C. It D. Whom
Question 16. you’ll find great seafood is Molly’s Seafood Restaurant on the quay.
A. Where B. Which C. What D. Why
Rewrite the sentences to focus attention on the underlined information. Using structure” it is /
was ... that”
Question 17. She bought the car from Tom.
=>
Question 18. We are coming to stay with Jane this weekend.
=>
Question 19. My teacher helped me a lot with my study last semester.
=>
Question 20. The headmaster gave Tam a bicycle as a scholarship. (passive)
=>