How do you use "What-cleft Sentences" in a sentence?

What we need is more time. What surprised me was her reaction. What I mean is that we should wait. All I want is peace and quiet.

What-cleft Sentences

Q: What does "What-cleft Sentences" mean?

Focusing information with 'what' clauses 'What + clause + is/was...' highlights the focused element: 'What I need is help.' 'What happened was unexpected.' Can also use 'The thing that...' or 'All that...' for similar effect.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Focusing information with 'what' clauses

用'what'从句聚焦信息

Enfocar información con cláusulas 'what'

「what」節で情報を焦点化する

'what' 절로 정보를 강조하기

'What + clause + is/was...' highlights the focused element: 'What I need is help.' 'What happened was unexpected.' Can also use 'The thing that...' or 'All that...' for similar effect.

'What + 从句 + is/was...'突出焦点元素：'What I need is help.'（我需要的是帮助。）也可以用'The thing that...'或'All that...'达到类似效果。

'What + cláusula + is/was...' destaca el elemento enfocado: 'What I need is help.' También se puede usar 'The thing that...' o 'All that...' para un efecto similar.

「What + 節 + is/was...」は焦点を当てる要素を強調します：「What I need is help.」「The thing that...」や「All that...」も同様の効果があります。

'What + 절 + is/was...' 구조는 강조하고 싶은 요소를 부각시킵니다: 'What I need is help.' 'What happened was unexpected.' 'The thing that...' 또는 'All that...'으로도 비슷한 효과를 낼 수 있습니다.

Examples

What we need is more time.
我们需要的是更多时间。
Lo que necesitamos es más tiempo.
私たちが必要なのはもっと時間です。
우리에게 필요한 것은 더 많은 시간입니다.
What surprised me was her reaction.
让我惊讶的是她的反应。
Lo que me sorprendió fue su reacción.
驚いたのは彼女の反応でした。
놀라웠던 것은 그녀의 반응이었습니다.
What I mean is that we should wait.
我的意思是我们应该等一等。
Lo que quiero decir es que deberíamos esperar.
私が言いたいのは、待つべきだということです。
내가 말하고 싶은 것은 기다려야 한다는 것입니다.
All I want is peace and quiet.
我想要的只是安静。
Todo lo que quiero es paz y tranquilidad.
私が欲しいのは静けさだけです。
내가 원하는 것은 평화와 고요뿐입니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, emphatic

Tone: emphatic

✓ Do Say

What concerns me is the cost.
让我担心的是成本。
Lo que me preocupa es el costo.
私が心配なのはコストです。
내가 걱정되는 것은 비용이다.
What they did was completely wrong.
他们所做的是完全错误的。
Lo que hicieron fue completamente incorrecto.
彼らがしたことは完全に間違っていた。
그들이 한 것은 완전히 잘못된 것이었다.
The thing I don't understand is why.
我不理解的是为什么。
Lo que no entiendo es por qué.
私が理解できないのはなぜかです。
내가 이해할 수 없는 것은 이유이다.
What I need is more time.
我需要的是更多时间。
Lo que necesito es más tiempo.
私に必要なのは、もっと時間があることです。
내게 필요한 것은 더 많은 시간이다.

✗ Don't Say

What I need are more time. (verb agrees with focus: 'is')
What I need are more time.（动词与焦点一致用'is'）
What I need are more time. (el verbo concuerda con el foco: usar 'is')
What I need are more time.（動詞は焦点と一致して「is」を使う）
What I need are more time. (동사는 초점에 맞춰 'is'를 사용해야 함)

Origin & History

Pseudo-cleft for emphasis

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal