• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…; Syntax for effect (GCSE/AP)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Choose the correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Not only ___ the race, but she also broke the record. (she did win / did she win / won she / she won) → did she winPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?
2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? No sooner had she stepped onto the stage than the lights went out. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?
3. Never had the village seen such a storm. What effect does inverting the normal word order create? (It shows the event will happen in the future. / It makes the sentence a question. / It emphasises how unusual the storm was by placing 'Never' first. / It makes the sentence informal and chatty.) → It emphasises how unusual the storm was by placing 'Never' first.Prompt: Think about how the sentence makes you read: faster, slower, with more emphasis?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is…. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? It was not the price but the quality that worried us.
• Step 1: Cleft sentences split a simple sentence into two parts to spotlight one element: It was Maya who… / What we need is…
• Step 2: The cleft contrasts and focuses on 'the quality'.
• Step 3: So the answer is: the quality
• Answer: the quality
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? It was because of the storm that the ferry was cancelled. (the ferry / was cancelled / because of the storm / it) → because of the stormPrompt: In 'It was X who/that…', X is the focus.
2. Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHERE they met: "They met in Lisbon." • It was in Lisbon that they met. • What they met was Lisbon. • It was they who met in Lisbon. • Lisbon, they met there it. (It was in Lisbon that they met. / What they met was Lisbon. / It was they who met in Lisbon. / Lisbon, they met there it.) → It was in Lisbon that they met.Prompt: Put the element you want to emphasise straight after 'It is/was…', or at the end after 'What… is/was'.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHO solved the puzzle: "Ana solved the puzzle." • What Ana solved was the puzzle. • The puzzle was solved. • Ana, she solved the puzzle. • It was Ana who solved the puzzle. (What Ana solved was the puzzle. / The puzzle was solved. / Ana, she solved the puzzle. / It was Ana who solved the puzzle.) → It was Ana who solved the puzzle.Prompt: Put the element you want to emphasise straight after 'It is/was…', or at the end after 'What… is/was'.
2. Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? All I wanted was a quiet weekend. (I / all / wanted / a quiet weekend) → a quiet weekendPrompt: In 'It was X who/that…', X is the focus.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.