Wh-Cleft: Emphasizing Actions

This structure breaks a simple sentence into two parts. A normal sentence might be: I called the police. This is direct but a bit plain. To make it a wh-cleft, you rearrange it. You start with a what clause. Then you add the verb to be. Finally, you state the action you want to emphasize. The new sentence is: What I did was call the police. Now, the focus is entirely on the act of calling. The what clause acts like a big arrow. It points directly at the result. It tells the listener to pay close attention. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so don't worry. Just focus on the balance of the sentence.

1. 1Creating these sentences follows a very specific recipe. Follow these steps to build one correctly:
2. 2Start with the word what to introduce the clause.
3. 3Add the subject of your sentence (e.g., I, she, the company).
4. 4Use a form of the verb do (e.g., does, did, has done).
5. 5Add the verb to be that matches your tense (e.g., is, was).
6. 6Finish with the action you are emphasizing.
7. 7Example: What + he + did + was + resign.
8. 8Note: You can use a bare infinitive (resign) or a to-infinitive (to resign). The bare version is much more common in modern English. It sounds more natural and less stiff. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. The what part is the yellow light. The be verb is the green light. The final action is your destination.

Use wh-clefts when you want to be very clear. They are perfect for job interviews. You can highlight your specific achievements. For example: What I did was streamline the entire process. This sounds much more impressive than a simple statement. Use them when you are giving directions. What you need to do is turn left at the light. It ensures the listener doesn't miss the crucial step. They are also great for correcting people. If someone thinks you forgot the milk, say: What I did was buy the milk first. It adds a layer of polite but firm emphasis. It is like putting your action in bold text.

Do not use wh-clefts for every single sentence. If you do, you will sound like a movie trailer. It becomes exhausting for the listener. Avoid them for very simple, unimportant facts. What I did was blink sounds ridiculous. Use them sparingly for maximum impact. Also, avoid them in very informal, fast-paced texting. They are too long for a quick on my way message. If the situation is casual, stick to simple sentences. You don't want to sound like you are giving a lecture at a party. Grammar is about timing, just like a good joke.

One big mistake is doubling the past tense. People often say: What I did was called him. This is incorrect. You already have the past tense in did and was. The final verb should stay in the base form. Correct: What I did was call him. Another mistake is forgetting the verb do. You cannot say: What I was call him. The do is essential to link the subject to the action. Some people also mix up the be verb agreement. If the action is plural, the verb stays singular. What I need are books is okay, but What I did was buy books is better. Keep it simple and consistent.

Wh-clefts are different from it-clefts. An it-cleft focuses on the person or thing. It was Sarah who called. This emphasizes that Sarah, not Ben, made the call. A wh-cleft focuses on the action itself. What Sarah did was call. This emphasizes the act of calling, not the person. There are also all-clefts. All I did was ask a question. This implies that the action was small or limited. Wh-clefts are more neutral. They just provide focus without adding the "only" meaning. Choose the right tool for the right job. It is like choosing between a hammer and a screwdriver.