Make it CLEFT using 'WHAT': She bought things online.
What she did was buy things online.
Make it CLEFT using 'IT': Pete paid for our flights.
It was Pete who paid for our flights.
Make it CLEFT using 'WHAT': My husband wanted a new iPhone for Christmas.
What my husband wanted for Christmas was a new iPhone.
Make it CLEFT using 'WHAT': You should arrange an appointment at the health centre if you have an earache.
What you should do if you have an earache is arrange an appointment at the health centre.
Make it CLEFT using 'WHAT': I decided to take the Cambridge Advanced exam during the summer.
What I decided to do was to take the Cambridge Advanced exam during the summer.
We use TO + INFINITIVE if the verb in the first part of the sentence is followed by...
TO + INFINITIVE ( e.g. intend, want, decide etc.) What I wanted was to work and live in NYC!
We use the INFINITIVE without TO if the verb in the first part of the sentence is followed by...
the INFINITIVE without TO ( e.g. should) What you SHOULD do is study more!
In cleft sentences which start with ____, we can choose what we want to emphasise.
IT
Lou had her house painted last weekend. Using IT, emphasis LOU.
IT was LOU who had her house painted last weekend.
Lou had her house painted last weekend. Using IT, emphasis LAST WEEKEND.
IT was LAST WEEKEND that Lou had her house painted.
Lou had her house painted last weekend. Using IT, emphasis HER HOUSE.
IT was HER HOUSE that Lou had painted last weekend.
You can also emphasise using DO, DOES or DID. Respond to the prompt with a sentence using do, does or did. You don't speak enough English in my class, Martha.
EXAMPLE: I do speak enough English and I speak more than anyone in the class.
You can also emphasise using DO, DOES or DID. Respond to the prompt with a sentence using do, does or did. You didn't remember our wedding anniversary...again! :(
EXAMPLE: I did remember! Here are some flowers and two tickets to Paris-we leave tomorrow! :)
REWRITE USING 'What.' I’d really like to have my poetry published.
What I’d really like to have my poetry published.
REWRITE USING 'What.' The doctor advised me to reduce my calorie intake and eat less meat.
What the doctor advised me to do was reduce my calorie intake and eat less meat.
REWRITE USING 'It' and emphasise 'best friend.' My best friend suggested I should apply for the job at the ad agency in NYC.
It was my best friend who suggested I should apply for for the job at the ad agency in NYC.
