Want to sound more precise and natural in English? Cleft sentences give advanced learners a powerful way to emphasise exactly the right information — turning flat sentences into focused, expressive statements. Whether you're preparing for a C1 or C2 exam or simply want to communicate with more impact, this quiz on it-clefts, wh-clefts, and related structures at learnenglish.com.np is the perfect challenge. Let's see how well you can split a sentence!
Test Your Skills: Cleft Sentences Quiz (B1–C2)
Q1. Choose the correct it-cleft to emphasise the underlined word: "The teacher praised the student."
A. It was the student that the teacher praised.
B. It was the teacher who the student praised.
C. It was the teacher that praised the student.
D. What praised the student was the teacher.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. It was the teacher that praised the student.
In an it-cleft, the focus element follows "It was/is" and the clause after "that" keeps the original subject–verb relationship intact. Since "teacher" is the subject doing the praising, the structure is "It was the teacher that praised the student."
Q2. Convert to a wh-cleft: "I love hiking the most."
A. It is hiking that I love the most.
B. What I love the most is hiking.
C. Hiking is it that I love the most.
D. What is hiking is that I love most.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. What I love the most is hiking.
A wh-cleft uses the pattern "What + subject + verb + is/was + [focus]." The focus element (the activity being emphasised) is placed at the end, after the copula "is."
Q3. Identify the error: "It was the report that I finished it last night."
A. "that" should be "which"
B. The pronoun "it" after "finished" is redundant.
C. "was" should be "is"
D. There is no error.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. The pronoun "it" after "finished" is redundant.
The relative pronoun "that" already refers back to "the report," so repeating "it" creates a classic advanced-learner error known as the redundant pronoun. The correct form is "It was the report that I finished last night."
Q4. Complete the reverse pseudo-cleft: "John's attitude ________ really annoys me."
A. is what
B. it is
C. that is
D. which is
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A. is what
In a reverse pseudo-cleft, the focus element comes first and the wh-clause follows: "[Focus] is what + clause." The full sentence is "John's attitude is what really annoys me," placing strong emphasis on the attitude as the cause.
Q5. "It was on Sunday ________ the accident happened." Choose the correct relative word.
A. when
B. which
C. that
D. where
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. that
Although "when" feels natural after a time expression, it-clefts always require "that" (or zero relative) in the relative clause — not "when" or "where." Using "when" here is a very common advanced-learner error. The correct form is "It was on Sunday that the accident happened."
Q6. "What he wants ________ both talent and hard work." Choose the correct copula.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have been
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. is
In wh-clefts, the copula "is/was" typically agrees with the wh-clause as a single nominal unit, not with the plural complement that follows. "What he wants" functions as a singular subject, so "is" is the standard choice, even though the focus element is plural.
Q7. "It is honesty ________ I value most in a relationship."
A. which
B. who
C. that
D. what
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. that
"That" is the standard relative pronoun in it-clefts when the focus is a non-personal noun like "honesty." While "which" is grammatically possible, "that" is far more natural and emphatic in this pattern.
Q8. "All I need ________ some peace and quiet."
A. are
B. is
C. was
D. have been
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. is
The all-cleft ("All I need is...") uses a singular copula because "all" acts as a singular head noun here, expressing exclusivity. It conveys that one thing alone is sufficient, making it ideal for expressing frustration or simplicity of desire.
Q9. "What they did was ________ us wait for three hours."
A. made
B. make
C. making
D. to make
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. make
When the wh-cleft focus is an action verb and the wh-clause contains "did," the focus verb must appear in the bare infinitive (base form). The pattern "What they did was [base verb]" is a key C1–C2 structure. Using the past tense "made" is the most common distractor error here.
Q10. "If he was angry, it ________ because of the news." (if-because cleft)
A. is
B. was
C. were
D. has been
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. was
The if-because cleft highlights the reason for a past state. Tense must align: since the condition is past ("was angry"), the cleft's copula must also be past ("it was because"). This elegant structure is rarely taught but appears in formal and literary writing.
Q11. "It was his mother ________ you saw at the bank." (Focus: personal noun)
A. whom
B. which
C. that
D. whose
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. that
Although "who" or "whom" may be used when the focus is a person, "that" is equally correct and is the more common choice in it-clefts — especially in spoken English. "Whom" is the formal object form but sounds overly stiff in this construction. "That" is the safe, neutral, and most widely accepted choice here.
Q12. "There ________ nothing I can do to help." (there-cleft)
A. was
B. were
C. is
D. are
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. is
A there-cleft uses "there + be" to introduce or spotlight a specific entity in a narrative. "Nothing" is a singular indefinite pronoun, requiring the singular present form "is" to match the present-tense context of the sentence.
Q13. "Why she left ________ a mystery to everyone."
A. it is
B. is still
C. was
D. remains it
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. is still
Here, the wh-word "why" begins a nominal clause functioning as the subject ("Why she left"). No additional "it" is needed before the copula — inserting "it is" would create the redundant pronoun error. The adverb "still" is correctly placed between "is" and the complement.
Q14. "What happened was ________ the car broke down."
A. it was
B. that
C. because
D. what
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. that
When the focus element of a wh-cleft is an entire event or clause, "that" is used to introduce it: "What happened was that the car broke down." This pattern is common in spoken narrative and storytelling to introduce an explanation.
Q15. "It's the parents ________ were protesting the most." Which relative pronoun is correct?
A. that
B. which
C. whom
D. whose
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A. that
"That" is used here after a plural personal focus ("the parents"). Note that the it-cleft structure keeps the singular copula ("It's") even though "the parents" is plural — this is a key feature of the construction. The relative clause verb ("were") agrees with "parents," not with "it."
Q16. "The reason why he left was ________ embarrassment." (reason-cleft)
A. avoid
B. avoiding
C. to avoid
D. avoided
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. to avoid
When the focus of a reason-cleft expresses purpose, a "to + infinitive" construction is required. The full sentence is "The reason why he left was to avoid embarrassment," where the infinitive phrase functions as the nominal complement expressing his purpose.
Q17. "The one thing ________ I value is trust."
A. it is
B. which
C. that
D. what
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. that
"The one thing that I value is trust" is a semi-cleft structure that uses a restrictive relative clause for emphasis. "That" is the correct relativiser here; "which" could be used in formal contexts, but "that" is preferred after superlative or uniqueness expressions like "the one thing."
Q18. "Not until I read the letter ________ the truth." (negative focus inversion)
A. I realized
B. did I realize
C. I did realize
D. realized I
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. did I realize
When a negative adverbial ("Not until...") is fronted for emphasis, subject-auxiliary inversion is obligatory in the main clause. This structure is closely related to clefting as both serve a focus function. The uninverted form "I realized" is a common error at C1 level.
Q19. "It is only to individuals ________ a soul is given." (formal/literary it-cleft)
A. when
B. who
C. that
D. where
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. that
Even though "individuals" is a personal noun, when the focus element is preceded by a prepositional phrase ("to individuals"), "that" is required to maintain the grammatical integrity of the it-cleft's relative clause. "Who" would create a relative clause referring to people as subjects, which misaligns with the passive structure that follows.
Q20. "What I appreciate most ________ your honesty."
A. are
B. were
C. has been
D. is
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. is
The wh-clause "What I appreciate most" acts as a singular nominal subject, so the copula is singular "is." The abstract noun "honesty" as the focus complement does not affect verb agreement. This is a pseudo-cleft expressing appreciation, common in sincere, formal spoken contexts.
Q21. "It's in the mountains ________ I feel completely at peace." Which word is most precise?
A. when
B. where
C. that
D. which
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. that
Although "where" seems natural for a place, it-cleft grammar requires "that" in the relative clause regardless of whether the focus is a time, place, or reason. "Where" would introduce a relative clause of location, which changes the structural meaning of the sentence. The correct it-cleft is always "It is [Focus] that [clause]."
Q22. "A good rest is ________ he needs." (reverse pseudo-cleft)
A. that
B. which
C. what
D. it
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. what
In a reverse pseudo-cleft, the focus element comes first, followed by the copula and the wh-clause: "[Focus] is what + [clause]." The word "what" introduces the subordinate clause and simultaneously refers back to the focus element. This structure sounds definitive and conclusive, making it popular in closing remarks and summaries.
Q23. "All she ever talks about ________ her job." (all-cleft)
A. talks about it is
B. are
C. is
D. it is
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. is
"All she ever talks about is her job" is a complete all-cleft. The verb "talks about" is already included in the subject clause, so no repetition is needed. Adding "it is" or repeating the verb are both redundant pronoun errors. "All" triggers a singular copula "is."
Q24. "It was my uncle ________ taught me the drums."
A. he taught
B. which
C. whom
D. who
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. who
"Who" is used when the personal focus element is the subject of the relative clause — here, the uncle is the one doing the teaching. "Whom" would be incorrect as it signals an object role. While "that" is also grammatically acceptable in it-clefts, "who" is preferred when the focus is a named person acting as the agent of the verb.
Q25. "What surprised me ________ how polite they were."
A. is
B. has been
C. were
D. was
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. was
The wh-clause "What surprised me" uses the past tense verb "surprised," so the copula must also be past: "was." Tense alignment between the wh-clause verb and the copula is essential in pseudo-clefts. Using "is" would create a tense mismatch, a subtle but important error at C1–C2 level.
Q26. Which sentence is a grammatically correct it-cleft?
A. It is London where she was born.
B. It is London that she was born in.
C. It is London which she was born in.
D. It is London she born in.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. It is London that she was born in.
Option A uses "where," which is incorrect in an it-cleft structure. Option C uses "which" — possible but less standard. Option D is grammatically incomplete. Option B correctly uses "that" and retains the preposition "in" after the verb, producing a grammatically complete and natural it-cleft.
Q27. "________ she is so calm that impresses me." Which opening correctly completes this wh-cleft?
A. It is the fact
B. That
C. The thing
D. What
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. What
"What she is so calm" creates the nominal wh-clause functioning as the subject, and "that impresses me" is the focus complement. The full sentence — "What impresses me is that she is so calm" — is the more natural arrangement, but "What she is so calm... that impresses me" is a valid cleft variant. Only "What" can head the wh-clause that precedes the copula in this structure.
Q28. Identify the cleft type: "It was only after the meeting that we understood the full picture."
A. All-cleft
B. Wh-cleft (pseudo-cleft)
C. There-cleft
D. It-cleft with adverbial focus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. It-cleft with adverbial focus
This is an it-cleft where the focus element is a prepositional phrase of time ("only after the meeting"). It-clefts can focus on people, objects, times, places, or reasons — any constituent except the main verb. The adverb "only" adds an additional layer of exclusivity, a common rhetorical device in formal writing.
Q29. "What we need to do ________ re-evaluate our strategy completely."
A. are
B. will
C. is
D. is to
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. is to
When the wh-clause contains an infinitive phrase ("to do"), the focus complement is also introduced by "to": "What we need to do is to re-evaluate our strategy." Alternatively, the bare infinitive "re-evaluate" (without "to") is equally acceptable. However, "is" alone without "to" creates a structural gap since the infinitive clause in the subject implies a parallel infinitive focus.
Q30. Which of the following sentences uses a cleft structure to correct a false assumption?
A. She enjoyed the concert very much.
B. What she enjoyed was the concert.
C. It was the concert that she enjoyed, not the dinner.
D. She enjoyed it, which was the concert.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. It was the concert that she enjoyed, not the dinner.
This is the defining pragmatic function of it-clefts: correcting a false presupposition. By saying "It was the concert that she enjoyed, not the dinner," the speaker explicitly contradicts what the listener assumed. This contrastive use of the it-cleft is one of its most powerful and frequently tested functions at C1–C2 level.
🎓 How Did You Score?
27–30: Outstanding — C2 Mastery. You command cleft sentences with native-like precision.
22–26: Excellent — C1 Proficiency. You have strong control; revisit the trickier inversion and adverbial questions.
16–21: Good — B2 Progress. Your foundation is solid; focus on relative pronoun choices and copula agreement.
10–15: Developing — B1 Level. Review the it-cleft and wh-cleft patterns before retaking the quiz.
0–9: Needs Improvement. Spend time with the explanations above and practise one structure at a time.
3 Teacher Tips for Mastering Cleft Sentences
1. Always ask: "What am I emphasising?" Before writing a cleft, identify the one element you want to put in focus — a person, a time, a reason, or an action. If it's a person or object, reach for an it-cleft. If it's an action or idea, a wh-cleft is usually more natural. This simple question prevents most structural errors.
2. Never add an extra pronoun in the relative clause. Once you've placed the focus element after "It was/is," the relative clause that follows must not repeat it. Think of "that" as a placeholder — adding "it," "him," or "them" afterwards is always wrong. Read your sentence aloud: if you hear two references to the same thing, cut the second one.
3. Use clefts to correct, not just emphasise. The most powerful use of an it-cleft in speaking and writing is to gently correct a misunderstanding — "It was Maria who called, not Sofia." This contrastive function is exactly what examiners look for in C1 writing tasks and speaking tests, as it demonstrates sophisticated control of information structure.
Keep Practising: More Quizzes for You
Cleft sentences are one of the most rewarding structures to master in advanced English — they sharpen your writing, elevate your speaking, and signal genuine fluency. Whether you're practising it-clefts for emphasis or exploring wh-clefts for nuance, consistent practice is the key to making these patterns feel natural. Find more advanced grammar quizzes, vocabulary challenges, and skill-building resources at learnenglish.com.np and keep building towards your C1 and C2 goals.