Cleft sentences — interactive lesson covering all six types with examples, quiz, matching game, and jigsaw exercise.
Interactive lesson · Advanced grammar
Cleft sentences
Six ways to split a sentence and move the spotlight exactly where you want it
What is a cleft sentence?
A cleft sentence splits a simple sentence into two clauses in order to focus on one particular element. The focused element is highlighted — it receives special emphasis — while the rest of the information is pushed into a relative or that-clause. Clefts are common in both spoken and formal written English.
Compare: "Maria found the key." → "It was Maria who found the key." (focus on Maria) → "What Maria found was the key." (focus on the key). Same meaning — different spotlight.
6
Cleft types
36
Worked examples
17
Quiz questions
3
Exercise types
Every cleft has a plain non-cleft equivalent with the same meaning. The cleft changes what is emphasised, not what is said. Mastering clefts transforms your writing from informative to persuasive and precise.
Cleft vs non-cleft — side by side
Plain sentenceJohn gave Maria a book at Christmas.
It-cleft — focus on subjectIt was John who gave Maria a book at Christmas.
It-cleft — focus on objectIt was a book that John gave Maria at Christmas.
Wh-cleft — focus on objectWhat John gave Maria was a book.
It-cleft — focus on timeIt was at Christmas that John gave Maria a book.
Types A–Z
All six types explained
Examples bank
Plain vs cleft, filterable
Quiz
17 questions, all types
Matching
3 rounds of sentence halves
Jigsaw
Build clefts from pieces
My glossary
Save types to review
Cleft sentences
Types A–Z
Click any type card to see its formula, uses, tip, and worked examples — click 🔖 Save to add it to your glossary
Cleft sentences
Examples bank
Filter by cleft type — click 🔊 to hear any sentence
Cleft sentences
Quiz
Choose the correct answer — 17 questions covering all six types
Cleft sentences
Matching
Click a sentence opening on the left, then its matching ending on the right — three rounds of increasing difficulty
Cleft sentences
Jigsaw
Click a piece from the word bank, then click a slot to place it — build the cleft sentence in the correct order