Advanced clefts and reversed pseudo-clefts

Manipulate cleft and pseudo-cleft patterns to manage contrast, correction and end focus in sophisticated discourse.

When do we use it?

Choose conventional cleft word order and agreement in singular and plural focused phrases.

Form

Use it-clefts, wh-clefts and reversed wh-clefts while matching be to the focused complement where appropriate.

• What mattered was the timing.
• The timing was what mattered.
• It was only later that the flaw emerged.

Key contrast

At C2, grammar is a resource for controlling perspective, density, rhythm and register, not merely avoiding error.

Common mistakes

• What mattered it was timing. → What mattered was the timing.
• The timing what mattered was. → The timing was what mattered.

Remember

Manipulate cleft and pseudo-cleft patterns to manage contrast, correction and end focus in sophisticated discourse.

Quick check

• Identify the information focus and logical relationship.
• Check auxiliary order, reference and complement pattern.
• Choose the option that is idiomatic in the intended register.