Cleft sentences - C1.1

What happens is...What happened was...

What.... or All...

Cleft sentences

Adding emphasis

The person who/that...The thing which/that... The place where... The first/last time... The reason why... etc.

It...

Let's practice: 1. She left her husband because he cheated on her. ............................. because he cheated on her. REASON

Let's practice: 1. She left her husband because he cheated on her. THE REASON (WHY) SHE LEFT HER HUSBAND WAS because he cheated on her.

Let's practice: 2. We stopped in an absolutely beautiful place for lunch. ................. absolutely beautiful. PLACE.

Let's practice: 2. We stopped in an absolutely beautiful place for lunch. THE PLACE (WHERE) WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH WAS absolutely beautiful.

Let's practice: 3. We got stuck in an enormous traffic jam. ...................... we got stuck in an enormous traffic jam. HAPPENED.

Let's practice: 3. We got stuck in an enormous traffic jam. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT we got stuck in an enormous traffic jam.

Let's practice: 4. They didn't apologize for arriving late, which really annoyed me. .......................... they didn't apologize for arriving late. WHAT.

Let's practice: 4. They didn't apologize for arriving late, which really annoyed me. WHAT REALLY ANNOYED ME WAS THAT they didn't apologize for arriving late.

Let's practice: 5. Your brother broke the laptop. .................. broke the laptop. IT.

Let's practice: 5. Your brother broke the laptop. IT WAS YOUR BROTHER WHO broke the laptop.

Let's practice: 6. I only said that I didn't like her dress. ................... I didn't like her dress. ALL.

Let's practice: 6. I only said that I didn't like her dress. ALL I SAID WAS I didn't like her dress.

Let's practice: 7. I like my Aunt Emily best of all my relatives. ..................... is my Aunt Emily. PERSON.

Let's practice: 7. I like my Aunt Emily best of all my relatives. THE PERSON (WHO/THAT) I LIKE BEST OF ALL MY RELATIVES is my Aunt Emily.

Let's practice: 8. Right now you need to sit down and put your feet up. .................... to sit down and put your feet up. WHAT.

Let's practice: 8. Right now you need to sit down and put your feet up. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW IS to sit down and put your feet up.

Let's practice: 9. I first met Serena at a conference in Berlin. ................... at a conference in Berlin. TIME.

Let's practice: 9. I first met Serena at a conference in Berlin. THE FIRST TIME I MET SERENA WAS at a conference in Berlin.

WELL DONE!

Adapted from English File C1.1. by Verónica Gaute