What-clefts: highlight a need, action or important point

The idea

Use what-clause + be + focused information. The what-clause has statement order: what I need, not what do I need. To focus on an action, What we did was move the table is natural; was to move is also possible in this pattern.

Examples

• What I need is a quiet place to work.
• What surprised Mina was the colour of the water.
• What we did was move the table into the shade.
• What I like about this bag is its wide opening.
• What Omar wants to know is whether the gate is locked.
• What matters now is keeping the path clear.

Watch out

The opening what-clause is not a direct question. Do not insert question-order do I before its verb. The focused part can be a noun phrase, an action or another clause; it need not be one noun.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. What ___ is a quiet place to work. (I need / do I need)

   Show answer or example answer

   I need

   I need gives statement order inside the what-clause. Do I need would use direct-question order.

2. Choose the correct option. What we did was ___ the table. (move / moved)

   Show answer or example answer

   move

   Choose the base form move, not the past form moved. In this action-focus pattern, to move would also be grammatical.

3. What surprised Mina was the colour of the water. Which information is in focus? (the colour of the water / Mina)

   Show answer or example answer

   the colour of the water

   The colour of the water follows was and identifies the surprising thing. Mina is the person who was surprised, not the focus here.

Use it today

Describe something you need and one feature you like about an object using what-clefts. Then rewrite an action you completed with What I did was .... Underline the focused information after be.