Many students struggle to add emphasis to their writing and speech. They often know what they want to say, but they do not know how to make an important part of the sentence stand out. One of the most effective ways to do this is through emphatic structures using “It is/was… who/that.” This why we are considering Emphatic Structures: It is/was who/that.
This structure helps speakers and writers draw attention to a specific person, thing, place, time, or action. It is common in everyday conversation, academic writing, journalism, speeches, and examinations. If you are preparing for WAEC, NECO, JAMB, IELTS, TOEFL, GCSE, SAT, or any English proficiency examination, understanding this structure will improve both your grammar and communication skills.
In this lesson, you will learn the meaning, rules, uses, examples, common mistakes, and examination tips related to emphatic structures.
Table of Contents
What Are Emphatic Structures?
An emphatic structure is a sentence pattern used to give special attention to one part of a sentence.
The most common pattern is:
It is/was + emphasized word or phrase + who/that + remaining part of the sentence
This structure is also known as a cleft sentence because it divides a simple sentence into two parts for emphasis.
Example
Normal sentence:
- Ngozi won the scholarship.
Emphatic sentence:
- It was Ngozi who won the scholarship.
The second sentence gives special attention to Ngozi.
Why Do We Use Emphatic Structures?
We use emphatic structures to:
- Highlight important information.
- Correct misunderstandings.
- Stress a particular person, place, thing, or time.
- Improve clarity.
- Create stronger written and spoken communication.
Example
Normal statement:
- The team won the match on Saturday.
Emphatic statement:
- It was on Saturday that the team won the match.
The focus is now on the time.
Structure of “It Is/Was… Who/That”
The basic pattern is:
It + is/was + focus element + who/that + rest of sentence
Present Tense
- It is Tunde who teaches Mathematics.
Past Tense
- It was Tunde who taught Mathematics.
The verb is is used for present situations.
The verb was is used for past situations.
When Do We Use “Who” and “That”?
Use “Who” for People
Examples:
- It was Amina who organized the event.
- It is Mr. Johnson who leads the project.
Use “That” for Things, Places, Time, and Ideas
Examples:
- It was the new policy that improved productivity.
- It is Lagos that attracts many investors.
- It was yesterday that the announcement was made.
In modern English, many speakers use that even when referring to people.
Example:
- It was Musa that scored the winning goal.
Although acceptable, many grammar experts prefer who for people.
Types of Emphasis
Emphasizing the Subject
Normal sentence:
- Chinedu solved the problem.
Emphatic sentence:
- It was Chinedu who solved the problem.
The focus is on Chinedu.
More Examples
- It was Nelson Mandela who inspired millions across Africa.
- It is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who wrote many influential books.
- It was Marie Curie who pioneered research on radioactivity.
Emphasizing the Object
Normal sentence:
- The teacher praised Esther.
Emphatic sentence:
- It was Esther that the teacher praised.
The focus is on Esther.
- It was the trophy that the team celebrated.
- It was the scholarship that Ada received.
Emphasizing Time
Normal sentence:
- The conference started on Monday.
Emphatic sentence:
- It was on Monday that the conference started.
Examples
- It was in 1960 that Nigeria gained independence.
- It was in 1994 that South Africa held its first democratic election.
- It was in 1969 that humans first landed on the Moon.
Emphasizing Place
Normal sentence:
- She met the author in Abuja.
Emphatic sentence:
- It was in Abuja that she met the author.
Examples
- It was in Nairobi that the summit was held.
- It was in London that the agreement was signed.
- It was in Accra that the conference attracted international delegates.
Emphasizing a Reason or Circumstance
Normal sentence:
- He succeeded because of hard work.
Emphatic sentence:
- It was because of hard work that he succeeded.
Examples
- It was through determination that she became a doctor.
- It was through innovation that the company expanded globally.
- It was Chinua Achebe who wrote Things Fall Apart.
- It was in Abuja that the national conference took place.
- It was education that transformed many communities.
- It was Wangari Maathai who championed environmental conservation in Kenya.
- It was in Kigali that many important regional meetings were held.
- It was African entrepreneurship that attracted global investors.
- It was Albert Einstein who developed the theory of relativity.
- It was in New York that the United Nations established its headquarters.
- It was technology that changed global communication.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Mistake 1: Wrong Relative Pronoun
Incorrect:
- It was Mary that won the prize.
Preferred:
- It was Mary who won the prize.
Mistake 2: Wrong Verb Tense
Incorrect:
- It was Musa who scores the goal.
Correct:
- It was Musa who scored the goal.
Mistake 3: Unnecessary Repetition
Incorrect:
- It was John who John completed the assignment.
Correct:
- It was John who completed the assignment.
Quick Checklist
Before submitting your work, check the following:
✅ Have you used “It is” for present situations?
✅ Have you used “It was” for past situations?
✅ Did you use “who” for people?
✅ Did you use “that” for things, places, or time?
✅ Does the sentence clearly emphasize one element?
If your answer is yes to all five questions, your sentence is likely correct.
Mini Quiz
Choose the correct answer.
Which sentence emphasizes the subject?
- The manager approved the proposal.
- It was the proposal that the manager approved.
- It was the manager who approved the proposal.
Answer: C
Which sentence emphasizes time?
- It was on Friday that the ceremony took place.
- It was the ceremony that took place.
- It was the hall that hosted the ceremony.
Answer: A
Which sentence is correct?
- It was Sarah that won the race.
- It was Sarah who won the race.
- It was Sarah whom won the race.
Answer: B
Examination Practice
Rewrite the following sentences using emphatic structures.
Questions
- Ade bought the laptop.
- The students visited the museum yesterday.
- The meeting took place in Benin City.
- The company succeeded through teamwork.
- Aisha won the debate competition.
Answers
- It was Ade who bought the laptop.
- It was yesterday that the students visited the museum.
- It was in Benin City that the meeting took place.
- It was through teamwork that the company succeeded.
- It was Aisha who won the debate competition.
WAEC, NECO, JAMB, IELTS and GCSE Tips
Examination bodies frequently test sentence transformation and emphasis.
When answering such questions:
- Identify the part that requires emphasis.
- Begin with It is or It was.
- Place the emphasized element after the verb.
- Add who or that.
- Complete the sentence with the remaining information.
Example
Original:
- Grace submitted the assignment on Monday.
Emphasize Grace:
- It was Grace who submitted the assignment on Monday.
Emphasize Monday:
- It was on Monday that Grace submitted the assignment.
Real-Life Applications
You can use emphatic structures in:
- Academic essays
- Public speaking
- Debates
- Journalism
- Presentations
- Interviews
- Political speeches
- Business communication
Example
Normal statement:
- Young people drive innovation.
Emphatic statement:
- It is young people who drive innovation.
The second version sounds stronger and more persuasive.
Assignment
Rewrite each sentence using an emphatic structure.
- Emeka won the award.
- The event took place in Lagos.
- We completed the project last month.
- Hard work helped her succeed.
- The teacher encouraged the students.
Assignment Answers
- It was Emeka who won the award.
- It was in Lagos that the event took place.
- It was last month that we completed the project.
- It was hard work that helped her succeed.
- It was the teacher who encouraged the students.
Related Reading
To deepen your understanding of sentence structure and English grammar, readers should also study:
Recommended external grammar resource:
Conclusion
Emphatic structures using “It is/was… who/that” are powerful tools in English grammar. They help speakers and writers highlight important information, improve clarity, and communicate with greater impact.
Remember the basic formula:
It is/was + emphasized element + who/that + rest of sentence.
With regular practice, you will easily recognize and construct emphatic sentences in school assignments, examinations, professional communication, and everyday conversations.
If you found this lesson helpful, share it with fellow students, teachers of English, examination candidates, and friends who want to improve their grammar skills. A simple share may help someone finally understand emphatic structures and perform better in English examinations.
