Cleft sentences are a grammatical tool used to emphasise specific information in a sentence. By restructuring a sentence, you can highlight particular details, making them stand out more prominently than in a standard sentence. This technique is particularly useful in both written and spoken English for clarifying or stressing important aspects of a message.
Understanding Cleft Sentences
A
cleft sentence divides a single idea into two clauses to highlight one element
of that idea. It essentially splits the sentence into a "cleft" (a
split) to focus attention on a particular part of the information. There are
two main types of cleft sentences: it-clefts and wh-clefts.
1. It-Clefts
An
it-cleft sentence places the emphasis on a particular part of the sentence by
using the structure "It is/was [emphasised part] that [rest of the
sentence]."
Structure:
- It
is/was [emphasised part] that [rest of the sentence].
Examples:
- Standard
Sentence:
Chinedu won the science competition.
- It-Cleft
Sentence:
It was Chinedu who won the science competition.
2. Wh-Clefts
A
wh-cleft (also known as a pseudo-cleft) uses a wh-word (such as what,
where, who) to emphasise the part of the sentence being highlighted. The
structure generally follows the pattern: "What [emphasised part] is/was
[rest of the sentence]."
Structure:
- What
[emphasised part] is/was [rest of the sentence].
Examples:
- Standard
Sentence:
The book that Mary borrowed is on the shelf.
- Wh-Cleft
Sentence:
What is on the shelf is the book that Mary borrowed.
Uses of Cleft Sentences
- Emphasising
Specific Information:
Cleft sentences allow you to draw attention to particular
details, making them stand out in a conversation or text. This is useful when
you want to highlight an important piece of information.
Example:
- Standard
Sentence:
The teacher gave the students a challenging assignment.
- Cleft
Sentence:
It was a challenging assignment that the teacher gave the students.
- Clarifying
Ambiguities:
By using cleft sentences, you can eliminate ambiguities and
make the intended message clearer to the reader or listener.
Example:
- Standard
Sentence:
The committee reviewed the report and made changes.
- Cleft
Sentence:
What the committee did was review the report and make changes.
- Shifting
Focus:
Cleft sentences are also effective in shifting the focus of
a discussion or narrative. This can be helpful in storytelling or persuasive
writing to direct attention where you want it.
Example:
- Standard
Sentence:
Olufunke organised the charity event last month.
- Cleft
Sentence:
It was Olufunke who organised the charity event last month.
Creating Cleft Sentences
To
create a cleft sentence, follow these steps:
- Identify
the key information
you want to emphasise.
- Choose
the appropriate cleft structure (it-cleft or wh-cleft) based on what you need to
highlight.
- Rephrase
the sentence
using the cleft structure, ensuring the emphasised part is clear and
correctly placed.
Examples for Practice:
- Standard
Sentence:
The guests enjoyed the traditional Nigerian dishes prepared by the chef.
- Cleft
Sentence:
It was the traditional Nigerian dishes that the guests enjoyed, prepared by
the chef.
- Standard
Sentence:
Ada and her friends visited the National Museum last weekend.
- Cleft
Sentence:
What Ada and her friends did last weekend was visit the National Museum.
Exercises
To
gain a better understanding of cleft sentences, try transforming the following
standard sentences into cleft sentences:
- Standard
Sentence:
The students presented their science project during the assembly.
- Standard
Sentence:
The principal announced the new school policy on social media.
- Standard
Sentence:
The football match between Lagos and Abuja ended in a draw.
In
each of these examples, focus on emphasising the key part of the sentence to
practice creating effective cleft sentences.
Cleft
sentences are a powerful tool for emphasising specific details in English. By
using it-clefts or wh-clefts, you can make your communication clearer and more
impactful. Understanding and practising cleft sentences will enhance your
ability to convey important information effectively in both written and spoken
English.