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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes

Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is…

Grammar

CCSS L.11-12.3.AEngland: A-level English LanguageEngland: AP LanguageEngland: GCSE English Language (AO5 crafting)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is….

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…; Syntax for effect (GCSE/AP)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • 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. So tired ___ that she fell asleep at her desk. (was her / was she / she was / she is) → was shePrompt: 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? Under no circumstances should the door be opened. (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 emphasises how unusual the storm was by placing 'Never' first. / It makes the sentence a question. / 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?

Hook · 6 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • 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.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • 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? The person who deserves the credit is Leo. (the credit / the person / deserves / Leo) → LeoPrompt: In 'It was X who/that…', X is the focus.
  2. Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHERE they met: "They met in Lisbon." • Lisbon, they met there it. • It was they who met in Lisbon. • It was in Lisbon that they met. • What they met was Lisbon. (Lisbon, they met there it. / It was they who met in Lisbon. / It was in Lisbon that they met. / What they met was Lisbon.) → 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'.

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • 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 WHAT you need: "I need a long holiday." • What I need is a long holiday. • I am needing a long holiday. • A long holiday, I need it. • It is I who need a long holiday. (What I need is a long holiday. / I am needing a long holiday. / A long holiday, I need it. / It is I who need a long holiday.) → What I need is a long holiday.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? The person who deserves the credit is Leo. (Leo / the credit / the person / deserves) → LeoPrompt: In 'It was X who/that…', X is the focus.

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she….
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is…

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? It was because of the storm that the ferry was cancelled.

    • A. because of the storm
    • B. it
    • C. was cancelled
    • D. the ferry

  2. Question 2

    Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHO solved the puzzle: "Ana solved the puzzle." • What Ana solved was the puzzle. • The puzzle was solved. • It was Ana who solved the puzzle. • Ana, she solved the puzzle.

    • A. What Ana solved was the puzzle.
    • B. The puzzle was solved.
    • C. It was Ana who solved the puzzle.
    • D. Ana, she solved the puzzle.

  3. Question 3

    Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? It's the noise that I can't stand, not the crowds.

    • A. I
    • B. the noise
    • C. stand
    • D. the crowds

  4. Question 4

    Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHAT you need: "I need a long holiday." • I am needing a long holiday. • A long holiday, I need it. • It is I who need a long holiday. • What I need is a long holiday.

    • A. I am needing a long holiday.
    • B. A long holiday, I need it.
    • C. It is I who need a long holiday.
    • D. What I need is a long holiday.

  5. Question 5

    Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? What the scientists discovered was a new species of beetle.

    • A. what
    • B. a new species of beetle
    • C. discovered
    • D. the scientists

  6. Question 6

    Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHERE they met: "They met in 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.

    • A. It was they who met in Lisbon.
    • B. Lisbon, they met there it.
    • C. It was in Lisbon that they met.
    • D. What they met was Lisbon.

  7. Question 7

    Which part of this sentence is being emphasised by its structure? All I wanted was a quiet weekend.

    • A. wanted
    • B. I
    • C. a quiet weekend
    • D. all

  8. Question 8

    Read the question and choose. Emphasise WHERE they met: "They met in Lisbon." • Lisbon, they met there it. • It was they who met in Lisbon. • It was in Lisbon that they met. • What they met was Lisbon.

    • A. Lisbon, they met there it.
    • B. It was they who met in Lisbon.
    • C. It was in Lisbon that they met.
    • D. What they met was Lisbon.

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Answer key: Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is…

  1. 1. A. because of the storm

  2. 2. C. It was Ana who solved the puzzle.

  3. 3. B. the noise

  4. 4. D. What I need is a long holiday.

  5. 5. B. a new species of beetle

  6. 6. C. It was in Lisbon that they met.

  7. 7. C. a quiet weekend

  8. 8. C. It was in Lisbon that they met.