1.

Fill in the gaps:

1. Mr Palmer saw I could also act.

It ____________________ I could act
2. I didn’t invite them.
It __________________ invited them
3. I began to suspect something at that moment.
It ________________________ something
4. Money is the thing people care about nowadays.
It ________________________ about nowadays
5. His attitude towards other people really annoys me.
It ______________________ that really annoys me.
6. I didn’t decide to take a short cut across country!
It _______________________________ a short cut across country!
7. The demonstrators didn’t start the trouble.
It __________________________ started the trouble.
8. I didn’t suggest having a barbecue!
It ______________________________  having a barbecue!
9. The computer gives me a headache.
It __________________________ me a headache.
10. My uncle Tom came on Thursday.
It ________________________ on Thursday.

2. Rewrite the sentences, making them more emphatic.

1. I was most unhappy with the service.- ….
What ………………………………………………………………(to be unhappy with)
2. I can’t stand the noise.
It’s……………………………………………………………………. (the noise)
3. John didn’t pay for the wedding ring, Sarah did.
It………………………………………………………………………. (Jonh)
It………………………………………………………………………. (Sarah)
4. He’s always late. It really annoys me.
What…………………………………………………………………. (to annoy)
5. Did you choose the furniture?
Was………………………………………………………………...…. (you)?
6. The waiter’a attitude made things worse.
It…………………………………………………………………...…. (waiter’s attitude)
7. I love autumn because of the colour of the leaves.
What…………………………………………………………………. (autumn)
8. Her terrible accent annoyed me most.
What…………………………………………….………………….…. (to annoy)
9. I bought it because it was a bargain.
It was…………………………………………………………………. (to be a bargain)
10. In the end Martha went to the police.
What……………………………………………………………………(go to the police)
3. Rewrite each sentence to emphasize the relevant noun, starting with It was ... - where
possible leave out the pronoun.

EG. Susie married Mike. - Not Mike, but Steve

No, it was Steve Susie married.

1.Mike bought her a ring for her birthday. - Not Mike but Steve.
No, ________________________________________________
2. He bought her a ring for her birthday. - For their anniversary.
No, ________________________________________________
3. He bought the necklace for Susie. - His daughter.
No, ________________________________________________
4. He bought a guitar for Rick. - A drum kit.
No, ________________________________________________

Practice with what-clefts

4. Fill each gap with ONE suitable word.

1. What I liked most about the movie ______ (1) the music.
2. What she ______ (2) was ______ (3) look for another job.
3. _________ (4) I said _________ (5) that he was a bit late, and he bit my head off.
4. What _________ (6) then ______________ (7) that all hell broke loose.
5. All that has happened is ____________ (8) the police _______ (9) given me a
warning.
6. ___________ (10) really annoys me __________ (11) that he's always right.
7. All I _______ (12)___________ (13) to ask for a clean cup, and the waiter went
berserk.
8. What _______ (14) happened was that she'd completely forgotten about it.
9. Your attitude is exactly __________ (15) I was wanting to talk to you about.

5. Transform the following, emphasizing the part of the sentence which has been
underlined.
0. I find it amazing that he can’t even fry an egg.
  What  I find amazing is that he can’t even fry an egg. 

1. How old is she? That’s what I’d like to know.

What ____________________________________. 
2. He lost his job, so he started up his own business.
He lost his job, so what he ___________________________________________. 
3. What I enjoyed most about the film was the music.
It _________________________________________________.
4. They got married in June, not in July.
It _____________________________________________.
5. I didn’t recognize him until he took his hat off.
It was only ______________________________. 
6. I only found out she had moved when I spoke to Jerry.
It wasn’t _______________________________________. 
7. I don’t know what that noise is. I just switched it on, that’s all.
I don’t know what that noise is. All __________________________________ . 
8. He thinks about his precious car and nothing else.
All __________________________________.
  
6. Complete each of the following sentences so that they are true for you.

a. What worries me is ……………………………………………………………

b. What I like most / least about studying/ my job is …………………………
c. What I’d like to know about ……………………………. is …………………
d. It was in ……………………… that I ………………………………………
e. I didn't enjoy .................... lessons at school. All we ever did was...................

7. CLEFT SENTENCES SPEAKING

Talk about the following topics. Begin your sentences with What – cleft sentences. Speak
about what:
you like about English.
you like about learning foreign languages.
you would like to do on your next holiday.
you would change to improve the Spanish educational system.
you would teach your children so that they could become decent human beings.
you will do this evening.
you would do this evening if you had more free time.
you will do when you pass your English exam.
you enjoy doing in your free time.
you admire the most about politicians
you can’t stand about politicians.
you find difficult about English.
you find easy about English.
you think will happen in Syria.
surprises you about people.
annoys you about people.
fascinates you about your favourite actor / singer.
you hate most about winter.
you hate most about men.
you hate most about women.
you find annoying about your family.
you usually do when you get angry.
you like best (or least) about Santander.
you really fancy doing next weekend.
you would love to eat or drink now.
you did yesterday.
you want from life.
you need to do today.
you’d like to believe in.
the world needs now.
would almost certainly help you improve your English.
makes young people today different from their parents.
you will be doing in five years’ time.