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🎯 C1 Masterclass • 12 Mins

Mastering Emphasis: Cleft Sentences

When speaking or writing in formal academic environments, simple sentences can sound flat. Learn how to rearrange your words to point a spotlight directly on your most important idea—without using overly complicated language.

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How to Use This Lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers

Guide students through the 4 core patterns in roughly 12 minutes.
Review the four practice stations to immediately verify mastery and address misconceptions.

✍️ For Students

Read each pattern card carefully and examine where the main emphasis lands.
Complete all 12 practice exercises step by step, from multiple choice to active correction.

📖 The 4 Essential Focus Patterns

Core Rules

Pattern 1

What + clause + is / was

Builds anticipation and puts the main idea at the very end.

Standard Example:

"What matters most is teacher quality."

Pattern 2

It is / was + focus + that

Puts the spotlight right at the beginning of the sentence.

Standard Example:

"It is the curriculum that needs to change."

Pattern 3

The reason why / the thing that

Explicitly highlights a reason, person, or specific circumstance.

Standard Example:

"The reason why many students fail is stress."

Pattern 4

Not ... but

Contrasts two elements directly to dismiss one and reinforce the other.

Standard Example:

"It is not money but time that students need."

Practice Arena (12 Items)

Work through all four stations testing grammar and essential educational vocabulary.

✏️

Station 1: Choose the Correct Sentence

Select the sentence that follows the natural focus pattern accurately.

1 Which sentence puts the focus on accountability correctly? [hint: focus]

____ What ensures genuine equity in modern schools is strict accountability. ____ What does ensure genuine equity in modern schools it is strict accountability. ____ That ensures genuine equity in modern schools what is strict accountability.

2 Which sentence emphasizes the literacy initiative accurately? [hint: emphasis]

____ It was the intensive literacy workshop which it transformed student progress. ____ It was the intensive literacy workshop that transformed student progress. ____ It was the intensive literacy workshop what transformed student progress.

3 Which sentence creates a clear contrast regarding rote learning? [hint: contrast]

____ It is not rote learning but practical inquiry that builds authentic understanding. ____ It is no rote learning and practical inquiry that builds authentic understanding. ____ What is not rote learning that practical inquiry builds authentic understanding.

Station 2: Fill the Gaps

Complete the sentences using the appropriate emphasis words.

4 Highlighting the underlying reason [hint: reason]

Type the 3-word phrase that starts the sentence to highlight a reason:

____ candidates choose vocational training is to secure industry-ready skills early.

5 Shifting the main point to the end [hint: clause]

Fill in the opening question word and the linking verb:

____ determines sustained student attainment ____ consistent formative feedback.

6 Putting the focus up front [hint: target]

Fill in the opening introductory phrase and the connecting word:

____ transparent assessment criteria ____ reassure anxious learners before final exams.

Station 3: Rewrite Sentences for Emphasis

Reconstruct each ordinary sentence into a strong emphasis pattern.

7 Emphasize the primary priority [hint: reorder]

Rewrite this base sentence starting with "What...":

"Schools must tackle educational disparity first."

____

8 Bring the cause directly to the front [hint: focus]

Rewrite this base sentence starting with "It is...":

"Rigid policies prevent students from enrolling."

____

9 Create a direct contrast [hint: contrast]

Rewrite using the "It is not... but... that" model:

"Students lack practical experience, not theoretical knowledge."

____

Station 4: Correct the Message Errors

Read these excerpts from student study chats and correct the single structural mistake in each.

10 Chat Message A: Disagreement on reforms [hint: verb]

"Hey Sam, our discussion yesterday got me thinking. What we need are a reformed curriculum to solve this."

Write only the corrected verb that should replace "are":

____

11 Chat Message B: Reflections on seminar data [hint: connector]

"I was checking the statistics. It was the high disparity what shocked us during the lecture."

Write only the correct connector that should replace the incorrect word "what":

____

12 Chat Message C: Venting about study habits [hint: pronoun]

"Honestly, the thing that annoyed me it was rote memorisation before every single exam."

Type the single redundant word that must be deleted to make this sentence grammatically sound:

____

Grammar: Education Systems and Cleft Sentences

Mastering Emphasis: Cleft Sentences

How to Use This Lesson

📖 The 4 Essential Focus Patterns

Practice Arena (12 Items)

Station 1: Choose the Correct Sentence

Station 2: Fill the Gaps

Station 3: Rewrite Sentences for Emphasis

Station 4: Correct the Message Errors

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