cleft sentence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “cleft sentence” mean?
A grammatical construction that splits a single clause into two parts, using a dummy subject (like 'it' or 'what') to emphasize a specific element of the sentence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A grammatical construction that splits a single clause into two parts, using a dummy subject (like 'it' or 'what') to emphasize a specific element of the sentence.
A syntactic structure used to highlight or focus attention on a particular piece of information (the cleft constituent), often for contrast, correction, or thematic prominence. It creates a complex sentence from a simpler one by introducing a relative clause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical differences. Minor lexical preferences may appear in the examples (e.g., 'holiday' vs. 'vacation'), but the structure itself is identical.
Connotations
Equally formal and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in formal and academic writing in both varieties. Slightly less frequent in casual speech.
Grammar
How to Use “cleft sentence” in a Sentence
It + be + FOCUS + relative clauseWh-clause + be + FOCUSAll + relative clause + be + FOCUS (All-cleft)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cleft sentence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Linguists often cleft sentences to test syntactic theories.
- The author cleverly cleft the clause for dramatic effect.
American English
- The professor asked us to cleft the provided simple sentence.
- This construction clefts the subject from the predicate.
adverb
British English
- He explained the point cleftly, using an 'it'-construction.
- The sentence was structured cleftly for emphasis.
American English
- She reformulated the idea cleftly to avoid ambiguity.
- The paragraph was written somewhat cleftly.
adjective
British English
- The cleft structure is highly informative.
- We analysed the cleft constituent in detail.
American English
- A cleft sentence pattern was evident in the text.
- His answer had a distinctly cleft formulation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in formal reports or presentations for emphasis: 'What we must address first is the budget deficit.'
Academic
Common in linguistics, rhetoric, and formal writing to structure arguments precisely: 'It was in the 19th century that this theory first emerged.'
Everyday
Infrequent in casual conversation, but can be used for strong emphasis or correction: 'It's your brother I wanted to speak to, not you.'
Technical
Core term in syntax and discourse analysis. Used to describe information packaging and focus.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cleft sentence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cleft sentence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cleft sentence”
- Using the wrong relative pronoun (e.g., 'It was the day when she arrived' vs. '...on which she arrived').
- Mismatching verb agreement in the relative clause with the focus (e.g., 'It is the students who is responsible' - should be 'are').
- Creating a sentence that is not a true cleft (e.g., just adding 'It is' without a relative clause).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its main purpose is to manage information structure by placing emphasis or focus on a specific element (person, thing, time, reason, etc.) within the sentence, often for contrast or thematic reasons.
An 'it-cleft' uses a dummy 'it' as subject (It was Jane who called). A 'wh-cleft' (or pseudo-cleft) uses a 'wh'-word clause as subject (What surprised me was her reaction). 'Wh'-clefts often present known information first, followed by the new focus.
They are less common in very casual, spontaneous speech but are frequently used in prepared speech, narratives, and when someone wants to correct, contradict, or strongly emphasise a point.
Most major constituents can be cleft: the subject, object, adjuncts of time, place, and reason. However, verbs and adjectives typically cannot be the clefted focus in standard 'it-clefts'.
A grammatical construction that splits a single clause into two parts, using a dummy subject (like 'it' or 'what') to emphasize a specific element of the sentence.
Cleft sentence is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Cleft sentence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkleft ˌsen.təns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkleft ˌsen.təns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable - term is technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLEFT sentence as a sentence that has been CLEFT or SPLIT into two parts to put a spotlight on one piece of information.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SPOTLIGHT or HIGHLIGHTER. The structure acts like a spotlight, isolating and illuminating one element from the rest of the sentence.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a 'wh-cleft' or 'pseudo-cleft' sentence?