Cleft Sentences (It was a cat that ate the pizza)
Summary
In a cleft sentence, a single idea is divided into two parts to place focus on a specific element.
- Non-cleft: A cat ate the pizza.
- Cleft: It was a cat that ate the pizza.
We divide the sentence into two clauses: “It was a cat” and “that ate the pizza.” We are then able to place focus on who ate the pizza: “a cat.”
- Pseudo-cleft: What the cat ate was a pizza.
- Reverse pseudo-cleft: A pizza is what the cat ate.
Cleft sentences are not only common in speech but also useful in writing, where inflection and intonation are not available to convey emphasis.
What is a cleft sentence?
A cleft sentence is one in which a single thought is split (or “cleft”) into two parts. This allows you to emphasize a specific element by moving it from its normal position into a position of focus.
- Non-cleft: The cat ate the pizza.
Cleft: It was the cat that ate the pizza. - Non-cleft: We need a better connection to the server.
Cleft: What we need is a better connection to the server. - Non-cleft: I want a room somewhere.
Cleft: All I want is a room somewhere.
The reader’s focus is directed toward a specific element by building up to it. In writing, where you can’t use intonation to indicate emphasis, the cleft structure can be quite useful. Compare the simple structure, “The thought counts,” with the cleft structure, “It’s the thought that counts.”
It-cleft
In a cleft sentence, the pronoun it is followed by the element you want to emphasize. The basic pattern is “It is X that Y,” where you want the reader to focus on X.
- Non-cleft: These flowers bloom in winter.
Cleft: It is in winter that these flowers bloom.The single clause “These flowers bloom in winter” is divided (or cleft) into two clauses: “It is in winter” and “that these flowers bloom.” Focus is placed on when the flowers bloom: in winter. - Non-cleft: Farley lost the bet.
Cleft: It was Farley who lost the bet. - Non-cleft: The war ended in 1918.
Cleft: It was in 1918 that the war ended.
Different parts of the sentence may be brought into focus, depending on what you want to emphasize.
- Non-cleft: Rita drove a motorcycle down a mountain at breakneck speed.
- Cleft: It was Rita who drove a motorcycle down a mountain at breakneck speed.
- Cleft: It was a motorcycle that Rita drove down a mountain at breakneck speed.
- Cleft: It was down a mountain that Rita drove a motorcycle at breakneck speed.
- Cleft: It was at breakneck speed that Rita drove a motorcycle down a mountain.
Note how the anticipatory it acts as a dummy subject in cleft sentences, followed by the element you want to bring into focus. The structure then is “it + be verb + focus element + that/who clause.”
- Non-cleft: Love makes the world go round.
Cleft: It is love that makes the world go round.It + is + focus element (love) + clause (that makes the world go round)
Pseudo-cleft or wh-cleft
Pseudo-cleft statements starting with what present information that is known, followed by new information. With their cleft-like structure, these sentences direct focus on a specific part of the sentence. The reader is encouraged to focus on the new information that appears toward the end of the sentence, in the complement position (a complement completes an expression).
- We’ll never make it to the station on time. What we need is a miracle.
The speaker uses the what cleft structure to emphasize that which is needed: a miracle.
- What you can opt for is the honeymoon package.
- What I’m asking you for is a second chance.
A cleft sentence brings an element in a sentence into focus. Don’t use a cleft sentence unless such emphasis is needed.
Other pseudo-cleft or wh-cleft sentences
English also has cleft sentences starting with how, who, when, where, and why, where the focus is on the complement position toward the end of the sentence. These are less common than the what cleft.
- How you should mix the dough is with your hands.
We could also say, “You should mix the dough with your hands,” but the cleft structure directs focus on how it should be done: “with your hands.”
- Who you should speak with is Anita.
- When the war ended was 1918.
- Where Farley lived was a dark and damp cave in the mountains.
- Why I ask is because I need to file a report.
More often than not, pseudo-cleft structures start with noun phrases like “the way,” “the person,” “the time,” “the place,” “the reason,” “someone,” and “something” in subject position and the focus element as complement.
- The way you should mix the dough is with your hands.
- The person you should speak with is Anita.
- The year the war ended was 1918.
- The place where Farley lived was a dark and damp cave in the mountains.
- The reason I ask is that I need to file a report.
- Something you can opt for is the honeymoon package.
Reverse pseudo-cleft
Like in all cleft sentences, in the reverse pseudo-cleft, we change word order to place focus on a particular part of the sentence—in this case, at the start. The order of the what cleft is reversed so as to direct focus on the subject instead of on the complement.
- A miracle is what we need.
- If you’re looking for a deal, the honeymoon package is what you should opt for.
- A second chance is what I’m asking you for.
All-cleft
Using all instead of what in a cleft sentence is an effective way to place focus on one thing over all else. The cleft structure makes the reader focus on the phrase that follows the be verb (is, was).
- All we need is a miracle.
We could also say, “We need a miracle,” but the cleft structure lays focus on “a miracle.” The use of all instead of what indicates that nothing but a miracle is needed.
- All I’m asking for is a second chance.
- All I wanted was to fly to the moon.
Examples from literature
Writers do not have the luxury of using intonation to indicate focus. They must rely on manipulating word order to direct the reader’s attention to a specific part of the sentence. Here are some examples of the cleft structure in literature.
Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.
— Mark Twain, Letter to Henry W. Ruoff (August 28, 1908)It was just noon that Sunday morning when the sheriff reached the jail . . .
— William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust (1948)It was a wrong number that started it . . .
— Paul Auster, City of Glass (1985)War is what happens when language fails.
— Margaret Atwood, The Robber Bride (1993)It was shortly after midnight when the phone rang.
— Manda Scott, Hen’s Teeth (1996)What I need is the dandelion in the spring.
— Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay (2010)
Examples from song lyrics
The way a cleft sentence lets you focus on a specific element lends itself well to song lyrics, where again, since the song is sung, intonation cannot be used to signify focus.
All we need is just a little patience.
— Guns N’ Roses, “Patience,” Appetite for Destruction (1987)When all I want is you.
— U2, “All I Want Is You,” Rattle and Hum (1988)Where I lay my head is home.
— Metallica, “Wherever I May Roam,” Metallica (1991)And all I really want is some patience.
— Alanis Morissette, “All I Really Want,” Jagged Little Pill (1995)