Cleft Sentence Examples: It-Clefts, Wh-Clefts and All-Clefts

A cleft sentence is a sentence that divides one message into two clauses and emphasises one chosen part with it, what, all, or there. These 306 cleft sentence examples are written for it-clefts, wh-clefts, reverse wh-clefts, all-clefts, there-clefts, tenses, negatives, questions, and everyday contexts from home to sports. You get model sentences for speaking, essays, and exam practice, together with related practice on relative clauses, inversion, and word order.

Quick Answer: Cleft Sentence Examples

• It-cleft with a subject: It was the neighbour who found the missing parcel.
• It-cleft with an object: It was a blue scarf that Maya lost on the train.
• It-cleft with a time: It was in March that the river flooded the fields.
• It-cleft with a place: It was on the roof that the workers found the leak.
• Wh-cleft: What the team needs is a new goalkeeper.
• Reverse wh-cleft: Fresh air is what the patients need.
• All-cleft: All the guests wanted was a cup of tea.
• There-cleft: There is a girl in the garden who is feeding the birds.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Everyday Use

Everyday clefts highlight one part of the message with it, what, all, there, or a noun such as person, as in “it was Maria who”, “what I need is a rest”, and “all she wanted was a quiet evening”.

1. It was Maria who called the office this morning.
2. What I need is a rest after the long journey.
3. It was the hail that damaged the greenhouse roof.
4. All she wanted was a quiet evening at home.
5. A glass of water is what the runners wanted at the finish line.
6. It is next week that the results arrive.
7. What he did was apologise to every guest.
8. It was in Lisbon that they first met.
9. The person who helped me was a stranger at the bus stop.
10. There was a boy who waited at the gate all afternoon.
11. It was his honesty that impressed the committee.
12. What surprised everyone was the speed of the repairs.
13. It’s the dog that barks at night, not the cat.
14. What I love most is the smell of fresh bread.
15. It was during the flood that the old bridge collapsed.
16. Peace is all the villagers want after the war.
17. It was Ravi who found the missing key under the sofa.
18. What happened next was that the lights went out.
19. It was because of the storm that the match ended early.
20. Trust is what a good team needs most.

Cleft Sentence Examples with It-Clefts

An it-cleft begins with it is or it was, then a focused word or phrase, and then who, that, or whom, as in “it was at dawn that”, “it is chocolate that”, and “it was the engine that”.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Subjects in Focus

Subjects in focus name the person or thing that does the action, as in “it was the engine that”, “it was the children who”, and “it is Lena’s laughter that”.

1. It was the engine that failed on the steep hill.
2. It was Kofi who painted the fence on Sunday.
3. It is the council that approves the budget each year.
4. It was my sister who told me the secret.
5. Everyone agrees that it was the heavy snow that closed the airport.
6. It was the children who broke the window, not the neighbours.
7. It is the librarian who orders the new books.
8. It was a small dog that frightened the burglar.
9. It was Dr. Rahman who discovered the error in the report.
10. It is Lena’s laughter that makes the office feel warm.
11. The police confirmed that it was a stranger who returned my wallet.
12. It was the twins who won the science prize.
13. It was Nadia who repaired the broken radio in the hall.
14. It was the bakery that won the town’s annual food prize.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Objects in Focus

The focused word names the object of the action, as in “it was Tomas whom”, “it is chocolate that”, and “it was an apology that”.

1. It was a red coat that she bought in the winter sale.
2. It was Tomas whom they invited to the opening.
3. It is the final chapter that I like best.
4. Later I realised that it was my keys that I had left on the train.
5. It was this very song that my grandmother sang to me.
6. It is chocolate that the children want for dessert.
7. It was the report that the manager rejected, not the budget.
8. It was a letter from Cairo that she opened first.
9. It is French that Sofia studies on Saturdays.
10. It was the old clock that the thief took.
11. The customer made it plain that it was an apology that he wanted.
12. It was the blue vase that the movers dropped.
13. It was a wooden chair that the carpenter finished first.
14. It is the new teacher whom the pupils like best.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Time Phrases in Focus

Each focused phrase names a time, such as “last winter”, “in September”, “after midnight”, and “at dawn”.

1. It was last winter that we moved to the coast.
2. It is in September that the new term begins.
3. It was in the spring that the swallows returned to the barn.
4. It was after midnight that the phone finally rang.
5. It is on Fridays that the market sells fresh fish.
6. My diary says that it was during the interval that Hana lost her glasses.
7. It was only last week that I learned the news.
8. It was at dawn that the fishermen left the harbour.
9. It was not until June that the rain stopped.
10. Mina insists that it was five years ago that Leila first visited Nairobi.
11. It was on Monday morning that the printer broke down.
12. It was just before sunrise that the hikers reached the ridge.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Place Phrases in Focus

Focusing a place, the cleft names a location such as “in the library”, “at the station”, and “in the north”.

1. It was in the library that we met.
2. It was at the station that Omar lost his ticket.
3. It is in the north that the winters are coldest.
4. Everyone knew that it was under the bed that the cat had hidden its toy.
5. It was on the third floor that the fire started.
6. It was in a small village near Seville that she grew up.
7. It is here that the old road meets the river.
8. It was beside the lake that the children found the boat.
9. It was at my uncle’s farm that I learned to ride.
10. It is in this room that the council makes its decisions.
11. It was in the old market that Dev bought his first camera.
12. It is on the top shelf that Grandma keeps the sugar.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Reasons and Manners in Focus

The focus falls on a reason or a way of doing something, such as “because of the fog”, “by practising every day”, and “through hard work”.

1. It was because of the fog that the flights were cancelled.
2. It was by practising every day that Mina improved her piano playing.
3. It is for her patience that the pupils respect her.
4. It was through hard work that the team reached the final.
5. Neighbours say that it was out of kindness that he gave away his coat.
6. It was with a smile that the waiter handed me the bill.
7. It is by listening carefully that you learn a language.
8. It was for safety reasons that the bridge was closed.
9. It was through careful planning that the festival ran smoothly.
10. It was fear that kept the witness silent for a week.

Cleft Sentence Examples with What and All

Three forms emphasise one part of the message: a what clause, a reverse order with is what, and all.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Wh-Clefts

What clauses come before is or was, as in “what Dina needs is a holiday”, “what worries me is the cost of the repairs”, and “what the team lacks is experience”.

1. What Dina needs is a holiday after this tiring term.
2. What she wanted was to leave before dark.
3. Once the fire was out, what he did was call the police.
4. What the children like is a story before bed.
5. What worries me is the cost of the repairs.
6. In the end, what we bought was a small house near the harbour.
7. What I like about the city is its quiet parks.
8. If the lights fail, what you should do is wait until the engineer arrives.
9. What the team lacks is experience.
10. What he said was that the road was closed.
11. At the final, what impressed the judges was her courage.
12. What I am looking for is a flat with a balcony.
13. After long debate, what they decided was to postpone the wedding.
14. What Lina enjoys is hiking in the hills.
15. What she gave me was a map of the old town.
16. What matters most to the coach is discipline.
17. What the visitors admired was the view from the tower.
18. What Hugo ordered was a bowl of lentil soup.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Reverse Wh-Clefts

The emphasised word comes first and is what follows it, as in “a warm shower is what”, “honesty is what”, and “time is what”.

1. A warm shower is what Ravi needs after the marathon.
2. Honesty is what matters most to us.
3. A quiet life is what my grandparents wanted.
4. To the judges, courage is what counted.
5. Fresh bread is what this bakery is known for.
6. The noise from the road is what worries the owners.
7. A strong coffee is what Tomas orders first.
8. On weekends, swimming in the river is what the cousins enjoy.
9. Patience is what young teachers learn slowly.
10. This small flat is what we were looking for.
11. For the youngest children, a bedtime song is what they ask for.
12. Time is what the new team lacks.
13. A longer break is what the staff asked for.
14. Good news is what the whole family needs this week.

Cleft Sentence Examples with All-Clefts

With all at the start, the clause continues with is or was, as in “all I want is peace”, “all she did was smile”, and “all we need is more time”.

1. All I want is peace and quiet.
2. All she did was smile at the camera.
3. All we need is more time to finish the project.
4. After the long walk, all the children wanted was an ice cream.
5. All he asked for was a glass of water.
6. All you have to do is press the green button.
7. In the drawer, all I could find was an old key.
8. All the team needs is one good result.
9. Years later, all Nadia remembers is the smell of rain.
10. All they heard was the wind in the pines.
11. All the baby wanted was her mother’s voice.
12. All I did was open the window.

Cleft Sentence Examples with There and Noun Heads

There-clefts, a head noun such as place or reason, and a verb or clause after is or was are the three forms in this group.

Cleft Sentence Examples with There-Clefts

Beginning with there is, there are, or there was, the sentence ends with a who or that clause, as in “there is a shop on the corner that”, “there are people who”, and “there was a girl at the door who”.

1. There is a shop on the corner that sells fresh bread.
2. There are people who never read the instructions.
3. There was a girl at the door who wanted to see you.
4. There is something in the garden that frightens the cat.
5. There were two men outside who asked for directions.
6. There is a problem with the engine that nobody has noticed.
7. There was a note on the table that explained everything.
8. There are students in this class who speak four languages.
9. There is a cafe near the school that serves excellent tea.
10. There was a man at the gate who asked about the room.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Noun Heads

Before the clause comes a head noun such as place, person, reason, day, month, or thing, as in “the place where”, “the month when”, and “the time when”.

1. The place where we met was a bus stop.
2. The person who fixed the roof was my neighbour.
3. The reason why he left was the noise.
4. The day when we arrived was a Friday.
5. The month when the river floods is April.
6. The thing I regret is not calling earlier.
7. The town where I was born is Kandy.
8. The reason she resigned was her health.
9. The only person who knows the code is the caretaker.
10. The time when the shop is busiest is lunchtime.
11. The room where we study is the one with the blue door.
12. The one who called was my aunt Esi.
13. The place where we parked was behind the church.
14. The day when the exam starts is Monday.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Verbs and Clauses in Focus

After is or was comes an action or a whole clause, as in “what happened was that the power failed”, “what I did was lock the door”, and “what they want is to build a school”.

1. What happened was that the power failed during the storm.
2. What I did was lock the door and turn off the lights.
3. What she does is teach physics at the local college.
4. What the committee decided was that the fee would rise.
5. What they want is to build a school in the village.
6. What Mr. Park did next was open the window.
7. What I mean is that the plan is too expensive.
8. What the doctor advised was to rest for a week.
9. What Lara did was apply for the scholarship.
10. What the manager said was that the office would move.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Corrections

Corrections name the right person, reason, or thing and reject a wrong one, as in “it was not Tom but Sam who”, “it was Spain, not Portugal, that”, and “what I wanted was not a gift but an apology”.

1. It was not Tom but Sam who broke the vase.
2. It wasn’t the heat that bothered me; it was the noise.
3. It was Spain, not Portugal, that they visited last summer.
4. It isn’t money that makes people happy, but good friends.
5. It was Elena who won the race, not her sister.
6. It is the second train that goes to the coast, not the first.
7. What I wanted was not a gift but an apology.
8. It wasn’t Monday that the shop closed; it was Tuesday.
9. It was the writing, not the story, that disappointed the critics.
10. It is quality, not quantity, that counts in this workshop.
11. What he needs is a teacher, not a friend.
12. It was you who promised to call, not me.
13. It was the driver, not the passenger, who called the police.
14. It is patience, not talent, that wins in the long run.

Cleft Sentence Examples with Tense and Agreement

Present, past, future, and perfect verb forms combine with subjects such as the pupils, we, they, and you.

1. It is the pupils who decide the theme of the concert.
2. It is the manager who decides the schedule.
3. It was the children who were shouting in the corridor.
4. It was Priya who was waiting outside the door.
5. It will be Tuesday that the results are posted.
6. It has been the rain that has delayed the harvest.
7. What we need is more volunteers for the weekend.
8. What I will do is call the school tomorrow.
9. What we have been doing is testing the new engine.
10. What she had wanted was a quiet life.
11. What worries the farmers is the lack of rain.
12. It is we who are responsible for the delay.
13. It was they who paid for the repairs.
14. It is you who have the tickets.
15. It was the dogs that were barking all night.
16. What the girls have been planning is a surprise party.

Cleft Sentence Examples by Sentence Type

Negatives, questions, reported statements, and passives are the four sentence types in this group.

Negative Cleft Sentence Examples

Negation comes from not, n’t, never, or not until, as in “it wasn’t Rosa who”, “it isn’t the money that”, and “what I didn’t expect was”.

1. It wasn’t Rosa who told him the news.
2. It isn’t the money that worries me.
3. What I don’t understand is why the shop closed.
4. It was not until midnight that the guests left.
5. It isn’t Paul who forgot the tickets.
6. What I didn’t expect was such a warm welcome.
7. It wasn’t in the kitchen that I found the keys.
8. It isn’t the first time that the bus has been late.
9. What he never tells us is where he goes at night.
10. It was never Omar who complained about the food.
11. It wasn’t the rain that ruined the picnic.
12. What I don’t like is waiting in long queues.

Cleft Sentence Examples as Questions

Questions with a cleft begin with was it, is it, or a question word, as in “was it Maria who”, “is it the weather that”, and “why is it that”.

1. Was it Maria who called the office?
2. Is it the weather that bothers you?
3. What was it that frightened the horse?
4. Who was it that left the gate open?
5. Where was it that you found the key?
6. Why is it that the bus is always late?
7. How is it that you know my name?
8. Is it Friday that the new term starts?
9. Was it the noise that woke the baby?
10. When was it that you moved to Madrid?
11. Was it in Rome that they got married?
12. What is it that you want from me?
13. Is it the cold that keeps you awake?
14. How was it that nobody noticed the leak?

Cleft Sentence Examples in Reported Speech and Passives

In reported speech, the cleft follows a reporting verb, as in “he said that it was the noise that”. In passives, the verb inside the cleft is passive, as in “it was the bridge that was damaged” and “what was needed was a better plan”.

1. He said that it was the noise that kept him awake.
2. She explained that what she wanted was a quiet life.
3. The guide told us that it was in this room that the treaty was signed.
4. It was the bridge that was damaged by the flood.
5. What was needed was a better plan.
6. It was the old tower that was restored last year.
7. The reporter wrote that it was the mayor who had approved the plan.
8. What was said at the meeting was not recorded.
9. The guide mentioned that it was the monks who built the hall.
10. What was promised was a full refund.

Cleft Sentence Examples in Everyday Contexts

Eight settings range from houses, classrooms, offices, and stations to newsrooms, stories, stadiums, and clinics.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Home Life

Around the house, the clefts describe chores, pets, meals, and the kitchen.

1. It was my brother who left the tap running.
2. What I want for dinner is a bowl of hot soup.
3. All the baby needs is a quiet nap.
4. It is in the kitchen that the whole family gathers.
5. It was the dog that chewed the new slippers.
6. What Dad cooks best is a pot of vegetable stew.

Cleft Sentence Examples for School Life

In the classroom, the clefts describe teachers, pupils, a choir, a library, and the science fair.

1. It was Mr. Haddad who taught us how to write essays.
2. What the pupils enjoy most is the science fair.
3. It was in the second term that Zara joined the choir.
4. All the teacher asked for was a little patience.
5. It was the headteacher who opened the new library.
6. What the pupils needed was a longer lunch break.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Work

At the office, the clefts describe clients, managers, sales, receptionists, and team plans.

1. It is the clients who pay for the new equipment.
2. What the firm needs is a younger design team.
3. It was last quarter that sales began to fall.
4. The person who answers the phone is the receptionist.
5. It was the new manager who changed the opening hours.
6. What the team needs is a clearer plan for the quarter.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Travel

On the road, the clefts describe borders, gardens, trains, coffee, and maps.

1. It was at the border that the guard checked our papers.
2. What I remember about Kyoto is the quiet gardens.
3. All the tourists wanted was a seat in the shade.
4. It was the delayed train that made us miss the ferry.
5. It was in Istanbul that we tasted the best coffee.
6. All the travellers needed was a working map.

Cleft Sentence Examples for News Reports

In news reports, the clefts describe mayors, voters, storms, reporters, and official reports.

1. It was the mayor who announced the new tax.
2. What the voters want is lower prices.
3. It was on Tuesday that the storm reached the coast.
4. It was not the speech that surprised reporters, but the silence afterwards.
5. It was the opposition that demanded an inquiry.
6. What the report revealed was a gap in the safety rules.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Stories

Story clefts describe dragons, knights, princes, witches, and towers.

1. It was the dragon that burned the village.
2. What the knight feared was the silence of the forest.
3. There was a woman in the tower who never spoke to anyone.
4. All the prince wanted was to go home.
5. It was the old witch who guarded the hidden door.
6. What the girl heard was a soft knock at the window.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Sports

On the pitch, the clefts describe goalkeepers, coaches, captains, fans, and defences.

1. It was the goalkeeper who saved the final penalty.
2. What the coach demands is full effort.
3. It was in the last minute that the home team scored.
4. A strong defence is what wins the league.
5. It was the captain who scored the winning goal.
6. What the fans want is a place in the final.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Health

At the clinic, the clefts describe sleep, doctors, patients, coughs, exercise, and fluids.

1. It is sleep that helps the body recover.
2. What the doctor recommended was a daily walk.
3. All the patient needs is rest and clean water.
4. It was the cough that worried the nurse most.
5. It is regular exercise that keeps the heart strong.
6. What the nurse advised was plenty of fluids.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Kids and Exams

The range runs from short everyday lines for young readers to formal sentences for exam answers.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Kids

For kids, short sentences contain everyday words about food, pets, toys, and parks.

1. What I like is ice cream on a hot day.
2. It was the cat that knocked over the cup.
3. All I want is a new red kite.
4. It was Mia who drew the big yellow sun.
5. What my dog loves is a long walk.
6. It was in the garden that I found the frog.
7. A bike is what my brother wants for his birthday.
8. It is Saturday that we go to the park.
9. What I hear is a bird in the tree.
10. It was the baby duck that jumped into the pond.

Short Cleft Sentence Examples for Beginners

Beginner clefts are short, as in “it was Tom who ran”, “all I want is milk”, and “what I like is cake”.

1. It was Tom who ran.
2. All I want is milk.
3. What I like is cake.
4. It was Sam who won.
5. Milk is what I want.
6. It was Mum who called.
7. What I need is sleep.
8. It was Rex that barked.
9. All we need is time.
10. It was Anna who sang.

Cleft Sentence Examples for Exam Answers

Exam answers use formal wording about narrators, experiments, funding, inequality, research, and the economy.

1. It was not until the final chapter that the narrator revealed her motive.
2. What the experiment demonstrated was that the sample had been contaminated.
3. It is the lack of funding, not the lack of interest, that limits the research.
4. Social inequality is what the author criticises throughout the novel.
5. All the committee requires is a short written summary of the findings.
6. It was only after the data had been checked that the team published its conclusions.
7. What distinguishes the two theories is their treatment of evidence.
8. It is in the final paragraph that the writer states her main claim.
9. There are researchers who doubt the results of the first trial.
10. What the reader remembers is the imagery of the opening scene.
11. It was the arrival of the railway that changed the town’s economy.
12. What the study found was a link between sleep and memory.

FAQs

Related:

• Noun Clause Examples
• Adjective Clause Examples
• Independent Clause Examples
• Subject-Verb Agreement Examples
• Complex Sentence Examples
• Dependent Clause Examples