Cleft sentences in Spanish, explaining how to use structures like "ser ... que," "lo que," and "lo + adjective" to emphasize parts of a sentence.
Cleft sentences are a way to emphasize a particular part of a sentence by “cleaving” it into two parts. In Spanish, cleft sentences often use structures with ser + que, lo que, and lo + adjective, among others. These constructions highlight information and add focus or contrast.
Common Cleft Structures
Here are some of the most common cleft sentence patterns in Spanish:
. Ser ... que
This structure uses a form of ser plus a que clause to highlight the emphasized part.
- Ejemplo: Fue Juan quien llamó. (It was Juan who called.)
. Lo que
Lo que means “what” or “that which” and introduces a clause that functions as the subject or object.
- Ejemplo: Lo que quiero es descansar. (What I want is to rest.)
. Lo + Adjective
This pattern emphasizes a quality or state, using lo plus a masculine singular adjective.
- Ejemplo: Lo importante es llegar a tiempo. (The important thing is to arrive on time.)
. Ser ... quien/qué
Similar to ser ... que, but using quien (who) or qué (what) to specify the emphasized element.
- Ejemplo: Soy yo quien decide. (I’m the one who decides.)
Examples of Cleft Sentences
Here are some examples for each pattern:
Ser ... que
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| Fue María quien rompió el vaso. | It was María who broke the glass. |
| Es en Madrid donde vive mi hermano. | It’s in Madrid where my brother lives. |
| Fue ayer cuando terminé el proyecto. | It was yesterday when I finished the project. |
Lo que
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| Lo que más me gusta es la música. | What I like most is music. |
| No entiendo lo que dijiste. | I don’t understand what you said. |
| Lo que necesitamos es más tiempo. | What we need is more time. |
Lo + Adjective
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| Lo difícil es empezar. | The hard part is starting. |
| Lo mejor fue la comida. | The best thing was the food. |
| Lo extraño es que no llegó. | The strange thing is that he didn’t arrive. |
Ser ... quien/qué
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| Soy yo quien respondió el correo. | I’m the one who answered the email. |
| Eres tú quien tiene la llave. | You’re the one who has the key. |
| Soy quien toma la decisión. | I’m the one who makes the decision. |
Tips for Using Cleft Sentences Naturally
- Use cleft sentences to add emphasis or contrast. They are especially useful in storytelling, arguments, and clarifications.
- Match the verb and pronouns correctly. In ser ... quien/qué and ser ... que structures, the verb agrees with the subject of the main clause (e.g., fue, es, soy).
- Choose the right relative pronoun. Use quien for people, qué for things, and lo que for “what” or “that which.”
- Keep the rest of the sentence simple. Cleft structures already add complexity, so avoid overloading the sentence.
- Practice with different tenses and subjects to become comfortable with the patterns.
Exercise
Complete the sentences with the correct cleft structure (ser ... que, lo que, lo + adjective, ser ... quien/qué):
- María vino a la fiesta anoche. (It was María who...)
- más es la paciencia. (The most ... is patience.)
- quiero descansar un rato. (What I ...)
- yo resolví el problema. (I’m the one who...)
- en la cocina prepararon la cena. (It was in the kitchen where...)
Complete the sentence: ___ más ___ es la paciencia. (The most ... is patience.)
Lo más importante es la paciencia.
'Lo más importante' is the correct abstract noun phrase, meaning 'the most important thing.'
Complete the sentence: ___ en la cocina ___ prepararon la cena. (It was in the kitchen where...)
Fue en la cocina donde prepararon la cena.
'Fue en la cocina donde...' is the correct structure to emphasize the location where the dinner was prepared.
Answers
- Fue María quien vino a la fiesta anoche.
- Lo más importante es la paciencia.
- Lo que quiero es descansar un rato.
- Soy yo quien resolví el problema.
- Fue en la cocina donde prepararon la cena.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
