Wh-Cleft Sentences

WH-Clause + BE + EMPHASISED WORD/PHRASE

Use WHAT as the subject of the sentence when you want to emphasize information.

e.g. A person’s smile is really important to me.What’s really important to me is a person’s smile.

Wh-Cleft Sentences

WH-Clause + BE + EMPHASISED WORD/PHRASE Use cleft sentences with verbs other than be by inserting what at the beginning of the sentence and a form of be after the main verb.

e.g. I always notice a person's hands.What I always notice is a person’s hands. MV

Wh-Cleft Sentences

Wh-Cleft Sentences

To emphasize the whole sentence rather than just the part following the main verb, use a cleft sentence with what and a form with the verb do.

e.g. She writes all her novels on a typewriter. What she does is (to) write all her novels on a typewriter.

Wh-Cleft Sentences

Cleft structure can include expressions like the reason why, the thing that, the place where, and the person who. These structures are typically used with the verb be.

e.g. The reason why I am wearing glasses is to protect my eyes.

The place where I do all the shopping is the mall.