IELTS HUB
Grammar for IELTS · Lesson 6

Mastering Cleft Sentences for Emphasis

Elevate your IELTS writing by mastering It-cleft, What-cleft, and All-cleft sentences to strategically emphasize key information and arguments.

Band 7+ Advanced Writing 17 min 24 questions
HS

Hardev Singh Sra Author, IELTS expert

Topic introduction

Cleft sentences emphasize a specific part of a sentence by splitting it into two clauses, thereby guiding the reader's focus. This technique is valuable in academic essays for highlighting key arguments or data.
Examples
  1. 1
    Standard: The widespread adoption of technology has transformed education.
  2. 2
    Cleft (for emphasis): It is the widespread adoption of technology that has transformed education.
  3. 3
    Standard: The government's policy aimed to reduce inflation.
  4. 4
    Cleft (for emphasis): What the government's policy aimed to reduce was inflation.

1 Forming It-Cleft Sentences

It-clefts start with 'It is/was...', followed by the emphasized element (a noun phrase or prepositional phrase), and then a relative clause (starting with that, who, when, or where). This structure precisely spotlights the emphasized element and is ideal for highlighting subjects, objects, or specific circumstances.
Examples
  1. 1
    It was the consistent investment in research that led to the breakthrough.
  2. 2
    It is primarily in urban areas where the issue of overcrowding demands immediate attention.
  3. 3
    It was not merely the economic downturn, but a combination of factors that contributed to the company's failure.
  4. 4
    It is through collaborative international efforts that global challenges such as climate change can be most effectively tackled.

Practice: 4 questions

Answer first, then check.

  1. 1 Which sentence correctly uses an It-cleft structure to emphasize the subject?
  2. 2 Which It-cleft sentence correctly emphasizes a prepositional phrase indicating location?
  3. 3 Transform this sentence into an It-cleft structure emphasizing 'collaborative international efforts': 'Global challenges such as climate change can be most effectively tackled through collaborative international efforts.' Provide only the transformed sentence.
  4. 4 Convert this sentence into an It-cleft emphasizing 'a combination of factors': 'A combination of factors contributed to the company's failure, not merely the economic downturn.' Provide only the transformed sentence.

2 Forming What-Cleft Sentences

What-clefts begin with a 'What-' clause (acting as the subject), followed by 'to be', and then the emphasized information or phrase. This powerfully highlights the phrase completing the 'What-' clause, making it effective for emphasizing actions, ideas, or concepts.
Examples
  1. 1
    What the latest study clearly demonstrates is a significant shift in consumer preferences towards sustainable products.
  2. 2
    What is most urgently required for societal progress is equal access to quality education for all citizens.
  3. 3
    What this line graph distinctly illustrates is a sharp decline in traditional media consumption over the last decade.
  4. 4
    What many policymakers often underestimate is the profound long-term impact of early childhood development programs.

Practice: 4 questions

Answer first, then check.

  1. 1 Which What-cleft sentence correctly emphasizes the main finding of a study?
  2. 2 Which What-cleft structure best emphasizes what policymakers underestimate?
  3. 3 Transform this sentence into a What-cleft emphasizing 'equal access to quality education for all citizens': 'Equal access to quality education for all citizens is most urgently required for societal progress.' Provide only the transformed sentence.
  4. 4 Convert this sentence into a What-cleft emphasizing 'a sharp decline in traditional media consumption': 'This line graph distinctly illustrates a sharp decline in traditional media consumption over the last decade.' Provide only the transformed sentence.

3 Forming All-Cleft Sentences

All-cleft sentences, starting with 'All', function similarly to What-clefts but add a stronger sense of exclusivity or limitation, implying the emphasized point is the sole or most critical one. The structure is 'All + [clause/phrase] + is/was + emphasized element'. Use these to narrow focus or make a definitive statement.
Examples
  1. 1
    All the data analysis conclusively shows is a strong positive correlation; it does not confirm causation.
  2. 2
    All the committee needs to address in its current session is the proposed budget cuts and their potential consequences.
  3. 3
    All this part of the report focuses on is the methodology used, not the results themselves.
  4. 4
    All that is truly needed to initiate change is a collective will and decisive action.

Practice: 4 questions

Answer first, then check.

  1. 1 Which All-cleft sentence correctly conveys exclusivity and limitation?
  2. 2 Which All-cleft structure best emphasizes the sole requirement for change?
  3. 3 Transform this sentence into an All-cleft emphasizing 'the proposed budget cuts and their potential consequences': 'The committee needs to address the proposed budget cuts and their potential consequences in its current session.' Provide only the transformed sentence.
  4. 4 Convert this sentence into an All-cleft emphasizing 'the methodology used': 'This part of the report focuses on the methodology used, not the results themselves.' Provide only the transformed sentence.

4 Choosing the Right Cleft Type

While all cleft sentences add emphasis, their structures lend themselves to highlighting different elements:
  • Use It-clefts to emphasize a noun phrase (who/what) or a prepositional phrase (where/when).
  • Use What-clefts to emphasize an action, an idea, or a whole clause (the 'thing' that happened or is important).
  • Use All-clefts to emphasize the entirety or the sole important aspect of something, often providing a limitation.
Understanding these nuances will help you select the most effective cleft structure for your IELTS writing.
Examples
  1. 1
    Emphasizing the 'who': It was the lead researcher who discovered the anomaly.
  2. 2
    Emphasizing the 'what' (action/idea): What the government proposed was a new set of environmental regulations.
  3. 3
    Emphasizing the 'only thing': All the report highlighted was the increase in urban migration; it didn't discuss the causes.

Practice: 4 questions

Answer first, then check.

  1. 1 When emphasizing 'the lead researcher' as the person who made a discovery, which cleft type is most appropriate?
  2. 2 To emphasize that a report highlighted only one specific aspect, which cleft structure is most suitable?
  3. 3 Choose the appropriate cleft type and transform this sentence to emphasize 'a new set of environmental regulations' as the thing proposed: 'The government proposed a new set of environmental regulations.' Provide only the transformed sentence.
  4. 4 Select the correct cleft type and transform this sentence to emphasize 'the lead researcher' as the person: 'The lead researcher discovered the anomaly.' Provide only the transformed sentence.

5 Strategic Emphasis in Essays

In IELTS essays, use cleft sentences to strategically highlight main arguments, create impactful contrasts, or introduce crucial pieces of evidence or data points from a chart. This directs your reader's attention effectively, adds sophistication, and is particularly useful in topic sentences or when synthesizing information.
Examples
  1. 1
    While various solutions have been proposed, it is comprehensive educational reform that promises the most sustainable societal benefits.
  2. 2
    What is often missing in discussions about technological unemployment is the potential for new job creation in emerging sectors.
  3. 3
    In addressing public health crises, it is proactive measures, rather than merely reactive responses, that prove most effective in the long run.
  4. 4
    What the provided table clearly indicates is that manufacturing output experienced the most significant growth among all sectors.

Practice: 4 questions

Answer first, then check.

  1. 1 Which sentence demonstrates the most effective strategic use of a cleft for introducing crucial evidence in an IELTS essay?
  2. 2 Which cleft sentence best creates an impactful contrast for an IELTS Task 2 argument?
  3. 3 Create a What-cleft sentence for an IELTS essay emphasizing 'the potential for new job creation in emerging sectors' as what is missing from discussions: 'The potential for new job creation in emerging sectors is often missing in discussions about technological unemployment.' Provide only the transformed sentence.
  4. 4 Transform this into an effective It-cleft for a topic sentence emphasizing 'comprehensive educational reform': 'Comprehensive educational reform promises the most sustainable societal benefits, while various solutions have been proposed.' Provide only the transformed sentence.

6 Natural and Judicious Use

While powerful, overusing cleft sentences can make writing sound unnatural, overly dramatic, or repetitive. Integrate them thoughtfully and sparingly for maximum impact, ensuring they serve a distinct purpose. Aim for variety in sentence structure.
Examples
  1. 1
    Instead of: It is pollution that is a problem. It is cars that cause it. It is solutions that we need.
  2. 2
    Better: Pollution remains a significant problem, and what is a major contributor is the sheer volume of cars; therefore, effective solutions are imperative.
  3. 3
    Consider: It was the final chapter that provided the most compelling evidence.
  4. 4
    Alternative (if overused): The most compelling evidence was presented in the final chapter.

Practice: 4 questions

Answer first, then check.

  1. 1 Which example demonstrates better variety and natural use of cleft sentences?
  2. 2 When you've already used several cleft sentences in a paragraph, which alternative maintains natural flow?
  3. 3 Rewrite this overused cleft structure to maintain natural flow: 'It is in developing countries that poverty is widespread. It is education that can help. It is investment that is needed.' Create one coherent sentence without cleft structures.
  4. 4 Improve this repetitive use of clefts into a more varied sentence: 'What technology does is change lives. What we need is adaptation. What matters is progress.' Create one natural sentence with only one cleft structure.

7 Clefts: Boosting IELTS Scores

Effectively using cleft sentences can significantly boost your IELTS Writing score. They demonstrate grammatical range and accuracy (showcasing command of complex structures), enhance coherence and cohesion (guiding the reader's focus), and directly aid task achievement (clearly emphasizing main arguments or key data trends).
Examples
  1. 1
    Task 2 Introduction: While industrial development is crucial for economic growth, it is its environmental sustainability that must be carefully managed.
  2. 2
    Task 2 Topic Sentence: What is essential for fostering innovation within a company is a culture that encourages experimentation and accepts failure.
  3. 3
    Task 2 Emphasizing a Cause: It was the advent of the internet that fundamentally reshaped the media landscape.
  4. 4
    Task 2 Highlighting a Solution: To address the issue of declining youth literacy, what schools need to implement is more engaging and modernised reading programs.
  5. 5
    Task 2 Contrasting: Some advocate for stricter governmental controls; however, it is community-led initiatives that often yield more practical and lasting results.
  6. 6
    Task 2 Concluding Point: Ultimately, it is a globally coordinated effort that will be required to mitigate the effects of climate change effectively.
  7. 7
    Task 1 Overview Statement: Looking at the pie chart, what is immediately striking is the dominant share of the budget allocated to healthcare.
  8. 8
    Task 1 Highlighting Data: It was in the year 2015 that exports saw their most significant increase, rising by over 20%.
  9. 9
    Task 1 Comparing Data: While both renewable and non-renewable energy sources grew, it was solar power that demonstrated the most remarkable expansion during the period.
  10. 10
    Task 2 Recommendation: Therefore, for any urban renewal project to succeed, what is paramount is the active involvement of local residents from the outset.

Lesson summary

The 7 points to remember from this lesson.

  1. 1
    Cleft sentences add emphasis by restructuring a sentence into two clauses to guide the reader's focus.
    Example: Standard: The research findings were significant. Cleft: It was the research findings that were significant.
  2. 2
    Use 'It-clefts' (It is/was...) to emphasize a specific noun phrase (who/what) or prepositional phrase (where/when).
    Example: It is in rapidly developing urban centres where this problem is most acute.
  3. 3
    Employ 'What-clefts' (What...is/was...) to highlight an action, idea, or an entire clause.
    Example: What the report clearly indicated was a need for immediate policy changes.
  4. 4
    Use 'All-clefts' (All...is/was...) to stress the only or most important aspect of something, conveying exclusivity.
    Example: All the study requires is more participant data for validation.
  5. 5
    Strategically integrate cleft sentences in IELTS essays to make main arguments or key data stand out.
    Example: While many factors contribute, it is the lack of practical skills that often hinders graduates' employability.
  6. 6
    Avoid overusing cleft sentences; use them sparingly and vary sentence structures to maintain natural-sounding prose.
    Example: Effective: The primary cause of the decline is clear. What is less certain is the long-term impact. (Instead of using clefts for both sentences).
  7. 7
    Cleft sentences demonstrate grammatical range and improve cohesion, potentially boosting your IELTS writing score.
    Example: What is crucial for Task 1 essays is a clear overview of the main trends shown in the data.

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