It + be + focused part + who/that + clausePut the important person, thing, time, or place after be. Then add who or that and the rest of the message.
It-Cleft Sentences
B2Use an it-cleft to strongly emphasize one part of a sentence: It was John who called. Put the focused part after be.
What you'll learn
- Build it-clefts with it + be + focus + who/that clause.
- Choose the word or phrase to emphasize after be.
- Match is or was to the time meaning.
- Use who for people and that for non-people focuses.
- Use it-clefts to correct or highlight one detail.
Structure
It + be + person + who + clauseWhen the focused part is a person, use who in the following clause.
It + be + thing/place/time + that + clauseWhen the focused part is not a person, use that in the following clause.
Build a sentence
Focus
Clause
ItwasAnnawho called
It was Anna who called.
Use was for past meaning.
When to use
Correction
Use an it-cleft when you correct one detail: It was Anna who sent the email, not Tom.
Strong contrast
Use it to separate one option from others: It was on Friday that we met, not on Thursday.
Answering a hidden question
The sentence highlights the answer to Who? What? When? or Where?: It was the manager who approved it.
Markers
not X but Ythe one whowhat matters isthe detail isactually
Common mistakes
Wrong
Was John who called.
Correct
It was John who called.
An it-cleft needs It as the subject at the start.
Wrong
It John was who called.
Correct
It was John who called.
Keep the order fixed: It + be + focused part + who/that clause.
Wrong
It is John who called yesterday.
Correct
It was John who called yesterday.
Use was when the sentence refers to a finished past event.
Wrong
It was Maria that helped me.
Correct
It was Maria who helped me.
After a focused person, use who.
Wrong
It was the red key who opened the door.
Correct
It was the red key that opened the door.
After a focused thing, use that, not who.
Common misconceptions
❝ It-clefts are only for emphasizing people. ❞
You can emphasize people, things, places, times, and reasons: It was on Friday that we met; It was the noise that woke me up.
❝ Changing a sentence into an it-cleft changes the original time meaning. ❞
The emphasis changes, but the time meaning stays the same. Choose be to match the original time.
Skills in this rule (5)
BUILD_IT_WHO_THATw5Build an it-cleft with it + be + focus + who/that clause
Use this pattern to put strong focus on one part of the message. Put the important word or phrase after be, then add who or that and the rest of the clause.
CHOOSE_FOCUSED_PARTw5Choose the part to emphasize after be
Move the most important part into the focus position after is, was, or another form of be. The rest of the idea stays in the clause after who or that.
MATCH_BE_TO_TIMEw4Choose the right form of be for the time meaning
Use is for present meaning and was for past meaning. The verb in the clause keeps the original time reference.
PICK_WHO_OR_THATw4Use who for people and that for things, places, or time phrases
After the focus part, use who when the focus is a person. Use that when the focus is a thing, place, reason, or time expression.
USE_FOR_STRONG_EMPHASISw3Use an it-cleft to correct, contrast, or highlight information
Choose this pattern when one detail matters more than the rest, especially in corrections and contrasts. It answers unstated questions like Who? What? When? or Where?