Basics of emphasis and inversion. 45 questions on it-cleft sentences, what-clefts, and basic fronting for emphasis.
What this test covers
- It-Cleft Sentences
- What-Cleft Sentences
- Basic Fronting for Emphasis
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1Sarah found the error in the report. It was Sarah ___ found the error.
Answer: A. who
To focus on a person (Sarah) in this type of sentence, use 'who'. For example: 'It was my dad who fixed the car.'
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Q2I chose the blue car. It was the blue car ___ I chose.
Answer: D. that
To focus on a thing (the blue car), use 'that'. Words like 'who' are only for people, and 'where' is only for places.
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Q3We met them on Friday. It was on Friday ___ we met them.
Answer: A. that
To emphasize a specific time (on Friday), we use 'that' to connect the two parts of the sentence.
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Q4My brother cooked the dinner. It was my brother ___ cooked the dinner.
Answer: A. who
Use 'who' when you want to highlight a person. For example: 'It was Maria who won the race.'
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Q5They got married in Paris. It was in Paris ___ they got married.
Answer: C. that
To emphasize a place (in Paris), we use 'that'. We don't use 'which' or 'who' for places in this sentence structure.
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Q6He didn't like the spicy soup. It was the spicy soup ___ he didn't like.
Answer: C. that
When focusing on an object like 'soup', use 'that'. Words like 'who' are for people, and 'when' is for time.
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Q7Maria answered the phone. It was Maria ___ answered the phone.
Answer: D. who
Since Maria is a person, use 'who' to give her more importance in the sentence.
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Q8I lost the red pen yesterday. It was the red pen ___ I lost yesterday.
Answer: C. that
For things like 'the red pen', we use 'that'. 'Who' would be for a person, and 'where' would be for a place.
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Q9We visited Spain last summer. It was last summer ___ we visited Spain.
Answer: D. that
When we highlight a time (last summer), we use 'that' to join the information.
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Q10David cooked the meal. It was David ___ cooked the meal.
Answer: A. who
Use 'who' to highlight the person (David) who did the action.
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Q11Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: C. It was the manager who approved the budget.
The manager is a person, so we use 'who' to focus on them. Words like 'which', 'where', and 'when' are not used for people here.
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Q12Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: C. It was yesterday that we finished the project.
To emphasize a time like 'yesterday', use 'that'. Words like 'who' (for people) or 'where' (for places) do not fit 'yesterday'.
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Q13Transform the sentence to emphasise the subject: John fixed the computer. It was ___.
Answer: D. John who fixed the computer
To highlight John, we start with 'It was John' and then add 'who'. 'John who fixed the computer' is the correct way to show he is the one who did it.
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Q14We missed the train. It was the train ___ we missed.
Answer: A. that
Use 'that' to point to a thing like 'the train.' 'Who' is only for people, 'where' is only for places, and 'what' cannot be used after 'the train' in this kind of sentence.
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Q15The doctor helped the patient. It was the doctor ___ helped the patient.
Answer: D. who
Since 'the doctor' is a person, we use 'who' to complete the sentence.
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Q16I want a new phone. What I want ___ a new phone.
Answer: B. is
The phrase 'What I want' acts like one single thing. Because 'want' is in the present, we use 'is'.
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Q17She said it was interesting. What she said ___ interesting.
Answer: D. was
The verb 'said' is in the past, so we must use 'was' to match the time. For example: 'What he ate was a pizza.'
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Q18We need more time. What we need ___ more time.
Answer: D. is
Since 'need' is in the present, we use 'is' to connect 'What we need' with 'more time'.
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Q19The final result surprised me. What surprised me ___ the final result.
Answer: C. was
The word 'surprised' is in the past, so we use 'was'. For example: 'What happened was a secret.'
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Q20Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. What I need is a holiday.
The correct order is: What + person + action + is + the thing you want to highlight. Example: 'What I like is coffee.'
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Q21Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: D. What I want is a break.
To focus on 'a break', use the order: What I want + is + a break.
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Q22I enjoyed the movie. What I enjoyed ___ the movie.
Answer: A. was
Because 'enjoyed' is in the past, we use 'was'. 'Is' would be for the present.
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Q23We should call the office. What we should do ___ call the office.
Answer: D. is
The sentence is about a current need or plan, so we use 'is'. Example: 'What you should do is rest.'
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Q24The news was a surprise. What happened ___ a surprise.
Answer: C. was
The word 'happened' is in the past, so we must use 'was' to match.
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Q25Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. What bothers me is the noise.
Follow this pattern: 'What' + the verb + 'is' + the thing. Example: 'What helps me is music.'
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Q26He bought a new car. What he bought ___ a new car.
Answer: A. was
Since 'bought' happened in the past, we use 'was'. 'Is' is only for the present.
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Q27We are looking for the key. What we are looking for ___ the key.
Answer: D. is
The action 'are looking' is happening now (present), so we use 'is' to point to the key.
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Q28Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. What I need is sleep.
The simplest way to say this is: 'What I need is' followed by the noun 'sleep'. Using 'that I sleep' or 'is sleeping' makes the sentence incorrect here.
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Q29The team achieved success. What the team achieved ___ remarkable.
Answer: C. was
The verb 'achieved' is in the past, so we use 'was'. Example: 'What they did was amazing.'
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Q30I hate cold weather. What I hate ___ cold weather.
Answer: A. is
The verb 'hate' is in the present, so we use 'is'. For example: 'What I hate is rain.'
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Q31I have to finish the report today. The report, I ___ finish today.
Answer: C. must
We can move 'The report' to the front for emphasis. To keep the meaning of 'have to' (something necessary), we use 'must'.
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Q32I will not take this job. This job, I ___ take.
Answer: D. will not
When we move 'This job' to the front, we keep the rest of the sentence the same. 'I will not take' stays 'I will not take'.
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Q33He goes to the gym every day. Every day, he ___ to the gym.
Answer: C. goes
Moving 'Every day' to the front doesn't change the verb. We still use 'goes' because 'he' is the subject.
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Q34I have heard that song before. That song, I ___ before.
Answer: A. have heard
We move 'That song' to the front to emphasize it, but we keep the verb 'have heard' exactly the same.
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Q35I appreciate your advice. Your advice, I ___ appreciate.
Answer: B. do
We can use 'do' to make the action 'appreciate' stronger. 'Your advice, I do appreciate' sounds very sincere and emphasized.
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Q36She arrives late often. Often, she ___ late.
Answer: A. arrives
Moving the word 'Often' to the front doesn't change the verb 'arrives'.
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Q37They will regret this decision. This decision, they ___ regret.
Answer: B. will
We move 'This decision' to the front for focus, but keep 'will' to show the future.
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Q38It was a long journey. Such a long journey, it ___.
Answer: C. was
The original sentence used 'was', so when we rearrange the words, we keep 'was' to talk about the past.
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Q39Identify the correct sentence using fronting:
Answer: A. This I cannot believe.
To emphasize 'This', we move it to the front and keep the rest of the sentence in the normal order: 'I cannot believe'.
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Q40Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. That I know.
When you move 'That' to the front, you don't need to say 'it' at the end. 'That I know' is the correct way to show emphasis. Example: 'The answer, I know.'
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Q41He opened the box very carefully. Very carefully, he ___ the box.
Answer: A. opened
The action happened in the past ('opened'), so we keep the past tense even when 'Very carefully' is at the front.
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Q42I have sent my email. My email, I ___ sent.
Answer: D. have
Moving 'My email' to the front doesn't change the verb phrase. We still use 'have' + 'sent'.
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Q43They buy these flowers every week. These flowers, they ___ every week.
Answer: B. buy
The original sentence uses 'buy' (present tense for 'they'), so we keep 'buy' when we move 'These flowers' to the front.
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Q44He rarely gets angry. Rarely, ___ angry.
Answer: A. does he get
When a sentence starts with a 'negative' word like 'Rarely' or 'Never', we use the question order. So 'he gets' becomes 'does he get'. For example: 'Never have I seen such a big cake!'
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Q45I do not believe that story. That story, I ___ believe.
Answer: A. do not
We move 'That story' to the front but keep the same helping verb ('do not') from the original sentence.
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