Cleft Sentences

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

It was not a stadium that made the 2026 FIFA World Cup remarkable — it was the scale. What makes the 2026 edition structurally different is the new group-stage format. It was Gianni Infantino who pushed hardest for expansion.

Grammar Reference · Cleft Sentences

It-cleft — agent focus

Emphasises who or what by moving it to the front. It was Canada that hosted the opening game.

Wh-cleft — fronted

Turns the subject into a what-clause. What surprised analysts was the projected revenue of $11 billion.

All-cleft — narrow

Restricts the scope of a statement. All we need is one competitive group stage match.

Common error

Never use which in an it-cleft. It was the format that divided opinion. ✓ — not which

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Cleft Sentences

1.It was who first proposed the 48-team format.

2. concerns analysts most is the tournament's carbon footprint.

3.It is the scheduling proves hardest to manage.

4.All FIFA is broader commercial sponsorship.

5.What the expansion is greater revenue for FIFA.

6.It was MetLife Stadium was chosen to host the final.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.The geography is the main logistical problem.

2.Nobody has resolved the competitive intensity debate.

3.Luiz Felipe Scolari questioned the new format most publicly.

4.FIFA needs a clear environmental policy urgently.

5.The final will be played at MetLife Stadium.

6.I just want to see competitive games from the first round.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

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