Mixed Cleft Exercises (Advanced)
C1 Level
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Mastering all nine types demonstrates the grammatical range expected at C1 level and above. Advanced cleft use goes beyond exam technique — in real communication, cleft sentences help speakers and writers control how information flows, which ideas receive emphasis, and how arguments are structured. In academic essays, mixing it-clefts with thing-clefts and wh-clefts shows sophisticated sentence variety. In professional contexts, do-clefts and event clefts clarify what happened and why. Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency both reward accurate and varied use of cleft structures across writing and speaking assessments.
Quick Rule
All 9 types: it-cleft | wh-cleft | reversed | all-cleft | thing-cleft | do-cleft | event | inferential | causal
- 1.If there's one lesson this crisis has taught us, it's that resilience matters most. (inferential cleft — key insight)
- 2.What the audit uncovered was a series of unreported financial irregularities. (wh-cleft — finding focus)
- 3.Accountability is what this organisation has been lacking for years. (reversed wh-cleft — value focus)
- 4.It wasn't the policy itself that failed — it was the way it was implemented. (contrastive it-cleft — negative)
- 5.All the evidence suggests is that further investigation is urgently needed. (all-cleft — limiting conclusion)
All 20 questions
Transform each sentence using the cleft structure indicated. This advanced exercise covers all 9 cleft types with complex academic and professional contexts.
THE LEAD RESEARCHER, not her assistant, discovered the anomaly. (It-cleft - subject)
It was
The breakthrough came DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF TESTING. (It-cleft - time)
It was
I find challenging is THE BALANCE BETWEEN INNOVATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT. (Wh-cleft)
What I find challenging is
THE ABILITY TO ADAPT QUICKLY is what distinguishes great leaders. (Reversed wh-cleft)
The ability to adapt quickly is
They only needed A CLEAR DIRECTIVE from management. (All-cleft)
All they needed was
They succeeded THROUGH METICULOUS PLANNING AND EXECUTION. (Thing-cleft - way)
The way they succeeded was
She COMPLETELY RESTRUCTURED THE DEPARTMENT. (Do-cleft)
What she did was
THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO A SINGLE VULNERABILITY. (Event cleft)
What happened was
In my career, I've learned that RESILIENCE is essential. (Inferential cleft)
If there's one thing I've learned in my career, it's
The conference was held AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE. (It-cleft - place)
It was
I admire is THE CLARITY OF VISION that defines her leadership. (Wh-cleft)
What I admire is
DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING is what sets successful companies apart. (Reversed wh-cleft)
Data-driven decision making is
He only said one thing: HE WOULD CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL. (All-cleft)
All he said was
The merger failed BECAUSE OF CULTURAL INCOMPATIBILITY. (Thing-cleft - reason)
The reason the merger failed was
They NEGOTIATED A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS. (Do-cleft)
What they did was
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED THE PROPOSAL. (Event cleft)
What happened was
The problem isn't resources, it's LACK OF COORDINATION. (Inferential cleft - contrast)
It's not that we lack resources, it's
THE SENIOR PARTNERS themselves endorsed the new strategy. (It-cleft - subject with emphasis)
It was
He was appointed CEO AT THE EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING LAST NIGHT. (Thing-cleft - time)
The time when he was appointed CEO was
The only lesson from this experience is PREPARATION IS EVERYTHING. (Inferential cleft)
If there's one lesson from this experience, it's
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