Cleft Sentences


1.   Rewrite the sentences, making them more emphatic.

a)         I was most unhappy with the service.- ….

What ……………………………………………………………... (to be unhappy with)

b)        I can’t stand the noise.- ….

It’s …………………………………………………………………………… (the noise)

c)         John didn’t pay for the wedding ring, Sarah did.- ….

It………………………………………………………………………..…….…. (Jonh)-

It…………………………………………………………………………………. (Sarah)

d)        He’s always late. It really annoys me.- ….

What…………………………………………………………………………. (to annoy)

e)         Did you choose the furniture?- ….

Was………………………………………………………………......................…. (you)

f)          The waiter’s attitude made things worse.- ….

It…………………………………………………………………....…. (waiter’s attitude)

g)        I love autumn because of the colour of the leaves.- ….

What………………………………………………………………...……………. (autumn)

h)        Her terrible accent annoyed me most.- ….

What…………………………………………….……………………...…….…. (to annoy)

i)           I bought it because it was a bargain.- ….

It was…………………………………………………………...………. (to be a bargain)

j)          In the end Martha went to the police.- ….

What……………………………………………………………………(go to the police)


2.   Complete the sentences so that they have the same meaning as the sentences before them.

a)        She is always telling lies, not John.
It's ........................................................ is always telling lies.

b)        I just need ten minutes to finish this task.
All ........................................................ ten minutes to finish this task.

c)         Ana started the trouble.
It was ........................................................ the trouble.

d)        When I got home I realised that I had left the TV on.
It was ........................................................ I realised that I had left the TV
on

e)         Monica studied English at La Laguna university.
It was at La Laguna university ........................................................ English.

f)          You should go on a diet.
What you ........................................................ on a diet.

g)        I washed all the clothes except the blouse.
The only thing ........................................................ the blouse.

h)        I came back because I had forgotten to close the windows.
The reason ...................................................... I had forgotten to close the
windows.

i)          I like the wonderful beaches in Tenerife.
What I like about Tenerife ........................................................

j)          Monica (not Ana) studied English at La Laguna university.
It was ........................................................ English at La Laguna university.

k)        I would like to go to Paris on my next holiday.
The place ........................................................ on my next holiday is Paris.

l)          She always pretends she hasn't heard me when I ask her to help me.
What ................................ pretend she hasn't heard me when I ask her to help me.

m)       I had a party last Friday, not last Saturday.
It was ........................................................ I had a party.


Revision

1. Fill in all the gaps creating cleft sentences.

a)        Mr Palmer saw I could also act.
It …………………………………………………….. I could act.

b)        I didn’t invite them.
It …………………………………………………….. invited them.

c)         I began to suspect something at that moment.
It …………………………………………………….. something.

d)        Money is the thing people care about nowadays.
It …………………………………………………….. about nowadays.

e)         His attitude towards other people really annoys me.
It …………………………………………………….. that really annoys me.

f)          I didn’t decide to take a short cut across country!
It …………………………………………………….. a short cut across country!

g)        The demonstrators didn’t start the trouble.
It …………………………………………………….. started the trouble.

h)        I didn’t suggest having a barbecue!
It …………………………………………………….. having a barbecue!

i)          The computer gives me a headache.
It …………………………………………………….. me a headache.

j)          My uncle Tom came on Thursday.
It …………………………………………………….. on Thursday.