How do you use "What...is (wh-cleft)" in a sentence?

What I need is a good night's sleep. What we should do is wait and see. What happened was, we missed the train. What I don't understand is why she left.

What...is (wh-cleft)

Q: What does "What...is (wh-cleft)" mean?

Another way to emphasize information Wh-cleft: 'What I need is rest' focuses on 'rest.' The 'what' clause acts as subject. Also: 'What happened was...' 'What I did was...'

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Another way to emphasize information

另一种强调信息的方式

Otra forma de enfatizar información

情報を強調する別の方法

정보를 강조하는 또 다른 방법

Wh-cleft: 'What I need is rest' focuses on 'rest.' The 'what' clause acts as subject. Also: 'What happened was...' 'What I did was...'

Wh-分裂句：'What I need is rest'强调'rest'。'what'从句作主语。也可以用：'What happened was...' 'What I did was...'

Oración hendida con wh-: 'What I need is rest' enfoca en 'rest.' La cláusula 'what' actúa como sujeto. También: 'What happened was...' 'What I did was...'

Wh分裂文：「What I need is rest」は「rest」に焦点を当てます。「what」節が主語として機能します。また：「What happened was...」「What I did was...」

Wh-분열문: 'What I need is rest'는 'rest'에 초점을 맞춥니다. 'what' 절이 주어 역할을 합니다. 또한: 'What happened was...' 'What I did was...'

Examples

What I need is a good night's sleep.
我需要的是好好睡一觉。
Lo que necesito es una buena noche de sueño.
私が必要なのはぐっすり眠ることです。
내가 필요한 것은 숙면입니다.
What we should do is wait and see.
我们应该做的是等等看。
Lo que deberíamos hacer es esperar y ver.
私たちがすべきことは様子を見ることです。
우리가 해야 할 것은 지켜보는 것입니다.
What happened was, we missed the train.
发生的事是，我们错过了火车。
Lo que pasó fue que perdimos el tren.
起こったことは、電車に乗り遅れたことです。
일어난 일은 기차를 놓친 것입니다.
What I don't understand is why she left.
我不明白的是她为什么离开。
Lo que no entiendo es por qué se fue.
わからないのは、なぜ彼女が去ったかです。
이해가 안 되는 것은 왜 그녀가 떠났는지입니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, explanatory

Tone: emphatic

✓ Do Say

What I mean is...
我的意思是...
Lo que quiero decir es...
私が言いたいのは...
내가 말하려는 것은...
What you need to do is...
你需要做的是...
Lo que necesitas hacer es...
あなたがする必要があるのは...
당신이 해야 할 것은...
What surprised me was the price.
让我惊讶的是价格。
Lo que me sorprendió fue el precio.
私を驚かせたのは価格でした。
놀라웠던 것은 가격이었습니다.
What I need is rest.
我需要的是休息。
Lo que necesito es descanso.
私が必要なのは休息です。
내가 필요한 건 휴식이야.
What I need is...
我需要的是……
Lo que necesito es...
私が必要なのは…
내가 필요한 건...

✗ Don't Say

What I need is to rest. (use 'rest' or 'to get rest')
What I need is to rest.（用'rest'或'to get rest'）
What I need is to rest.（se usa 'rest' o 'to get rest'）
What I need is to rest.（「rest」または「to get rest」を使う）
What I need is to rest.（'rest' 또는 'to get rest'를 사용）
That what I need is... (start with 'What')
That what I need is...（以'What'开头）
That what I need is...（debe empezar con 'What'）
That what I need is...（「What」で始める）
That what I need is...（'What'으로 시작해야 함）

Origin & History

Pseudo-cleft for emphasis

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal