Practice FrenchC1
Cleft sentences and emphasis
At C1, French speakers often reshape a sentence to put the focus on one element. Cleft sentences are a common way to do that.
Main patterns
- c'est... qui highlights the subject: C'est Marie qui a appelé.
- c'est... que highlights the direct object or time/place phrase: C'est ce livre que j'ai lu.
- ce qui / ce que / ce dont help introduce emphasized clauses: Ce que j'aime, c'est la simplicité.
Common uses
- contrast: Ce n'est pas moi qui ai décidé.
- clarification: C'est demain que nous partons.
- focus in spoken and written French
Watch out
Do not use clefts just to sound fancy. Use them when the information structure matters, especially when you want to contrast, correct, or focus one part of the sentence.
Try three examples
Example 1
Choose the cleft sentence that highlights Marie as the subject.
- C'est Marie que a appelé.
- C'est Marie qui a appelé.
- C'est Marie dont a appelé.
- C'est Marie où a appelé.
Show answer
C'est Marie qui a appelé.
It was Marie who called.
Example 2
Complete the emphasis structure, preserving the stated meaning.
Ce ___ je veux, c’est une réponse claire.
Show answer
que
What I want is a clear answer.
Example 3
The focus is on the object:
C'est ce livre ___ j'ai lu.
Show answer
que
It is this book that I read.
Practice this lesson
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