How do you use "It-cleft Sentences (Basic)" in a sentence?

It was the noise that woke me up. It's you who should apologize. It was in Paris that they first met. It's this book that I recommend.

It-cleft Sentences (Basic)

Q: What does "It-cleft Sentences (Basic)" mean?

Emphasizing specific information 'It + be + focus + that/who' emphasizes a particular element: 'It was John who broke the window.' (not someone else). Different from 'John broke the window' - the cleft adds emphasis to 'John.'

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Emphasizing specific information

强调特定信息

Enfatizar información específica

特定の情報を強調する

특정 정보를 강조하기

'It + be + focus + that/who' emphasizes a particular element: 'It was John who broke the window.' (not someone else). Different from 'John broke the window' - the cleft adds emphasis to 'John.'

'It + be + 强调部分 + that/who'用来强调特定元素：'It was John who broke the window.'（不是别人）。与'John broke the window'不同——分裂句对'John'进行了强调。

'It + be + enfoque + that/who' enfatiza un elemento particular: 'It was John who broke the window.' (no otra persona). Diferente de 'John broke the window' - la oración hendida añade énfasis a 'John.'

「It + be + 焦点 + that/who」は特定の要素を強調します：「It was John who broke the window.」（他の誰でもなく）。「John broke the window」とは異なり、分裂文は「John」を強調します。

'It + be + 강조 대상 + that/who'는 특정 요소를 강조합니다: 'It was John who broke the window.' (다른 사람이 아니라). 'John broke the window'와 다르게 분열문은 'John'에 강조를 더합니다.

Examples

It was the noise that woke me up.
是噪音把我吵醒的。
Fue el ruido lo que me despertó.
私を起こしたのは騒音でした。
나를 깨운 것은 소음이었습니다.
It's you who should apologize.
应该道歉的是你。
Eres tú quien debería disculparse.
謝るべきなのはあなたです。
사과해야 할 사람은 바로 당신입니다.
It was in Paris that they first met.
他们是在巴黎第一次见面的。
Fue en París donde se conocieron.
彼らが初めて会ったのはパリでした。
그들이 처음 만난 곳은 파리였습니다.
It's this book that I recommend.
我推荐的是这本书。
Es este libro el que recomiendo.
私がおすすめするのはこの本です。
제가 추천하는 것은 이 책입니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, emphatic

Tone: emphatic

✓ Do Say

It was Mary who suggested it.
是玛丽提议的。
Fue Mary quien lo sugirió.
それを提案したのはメアリーでした。
그것을 제안한 건 메리였어요.
It's the price that concerns me.
让我担心的是价格。
Es el precio lo que me preocupa.
私が気になるのは価格です。
내가 걱정되는 건 가격이에요.
It was last year that we moved.
我们搬家是在去年。
Fue el año pasado cuando nos mudamos.
引っ越したのは去年でした。
우리가 이사한 건 작년이었어요.
It was John who broke...
It was John who broke...
Fue John quien rompió...
壊したのはジョンでした…
그것을 부순 건 존이었어요…
It is John who breaks...
It is John who breaks...
Es John quien rompe...
壊すのはジョンです…
그것을 부수는 건 존이에요…

✗ Don't Say

It was John which broke... (use 'who' for people)
It was John which broke...（人用'who'）
It was John which broke... (para personas usar 'who')
It was John which broke...（人には「who」を使う）
It was John which broke… (사람에게는 'who'를 사용)
It is John who break... (match tense - 'breaks' or 'broke')
It is John who break...（时态要一致 - 'breaks'或'broke'）
It is John who break... (concordar el tiempo verbal — 'breaks' o 'broke')
It is John who break...（時制を合わせる - 「breaks」または「broke」）
It is John who break… (시제를 일치시켜야 함 - 'breaks' 또는 'broke')

Origin & History

Information focus structure

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal