Fronting and Cleft Sentences
We use special structures to emphasise one part of a sentence.
It-Cleft
Structure: It + be + focus + that/who + ... Use who for people, that for things and other cases.
- It was John who broke the window.
- It is money that he wants.
- It was in Paris that they met.
Wh-Cleft
Structure: What + clause + be + focus.
- What I need is a holiday.
- What matters is your health.
Fronting
We can move a part of the sentence to the front for emphasis, without repeating it with a pronoun.
- This book I really enjoyed. — not This book I really enjoyed it.
Quick Reference
- It-cleft: It + be + focus + that/who
It was you who were wrong. - Wh-cleft: What + clause + be + focus
What she wants is respect.
