Cleft Sentence Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.7.1.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Many times when we write we try to highlight or emphasis a particular portion of a sentence. Sentences that are written in this fashion are referred to as Cleft Sentences. The word "cleft" means to split or divide into two portions. When you put that into perspective, the name is very fitting. The worksheets found below will force you to rewrite sentences and write them properly. Your revisions will help you begin to understand the editing and proofreading process.

Cleft Sentence Worksheets To Print:

Rewriting Cleft Sentences – Put a bump in the road of each of these sentences.

A Sentence Divided... – You will be creating four different rewrites for each sentence.

Max's Teacher – We diagram this one out for and with the student.

Wh- Cleft Sentences – You need to dial the sentence towards the action.

Emphatic Structures – You will need to finish all of these guys off.

Saturday Night... – Rewrite the sentence below. Each time, change the emphasis of the sentence as indicated.

Creating Cleft Sentences – Rewrite the sentence below. Each time, change the emphasis of the sentence as indicated.

Shifting Emphasis – You are given a very helpful example to help you get the concept.

It - & What - – Fill in the blank in each cleft sentence with It or What.

Shifting Gears – Each time you rewrite the sentence shift the emphasis onto a different aspect of the sentence.

Using "What" – Revise the sentences below to be cleft sentences, using what.

Revising Sentences – Take your time and think these through.

Using It and What – Each of these words needs to be handled differently.

Writing Cleft Sentences – Create six original cleft sentences. Begin each one with it or what.

Is and What Chart – Fill in the chart for each sentence below using it or what as appropriate.

What Are Common Types of Cleft Sentences?


When we rewrite a sentence to revise it as a cleft, we are trying to pinpoint new information. It is very difficult in the English written language to spike or drop voice. Cleft sentences allow us to achieve this. They allow us to connect something that is follow understood to something that is new.


The most common types of cleft sentences follow an IT or WH pattern. The IT pattern is the most common used form. If we were given the sentence, "John started the lunch line." We could reform this sentence to put an emphasis on the person that started the line. It could be rewritten as, "It was John whom started the lunch line." Forming the sentence with this technique, it almost sounds accusatory. As if the author was trying to get "John" in trouble. Pronouns can also be used in the place of "IT", even though it still is considered an "IT" Cleft. For example: That is my tennis racket that you strung.


WH clefts refocus the emphasis on the end of the sentence. The front of WH cleft sentences start commonly with the words "what, where, or why". These clefts often are accompanied by the words "all, one thing, the thing, or something". For example: "All I want for dinner is steak." In this example it is understood that I want something for dinner. The new information is I want steak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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