It's a love of life that motivates them.
Cleft means split. We break one sentence into two parts so that a single element gets the emphasis. The information does not change.
A love of life motivates them.
It's a love of life that motivates them.
the spotlight sits next to be
the rest becomes a clause
Three patterns, one job: choosing what the listener notices.
Ask what you want the listener to notice: a thing, an action, or the fact that there is nothing more.
It's a love of life that motivates them.
What they want is to stay safe.
All they are thinking about is what they need to do next.
Anything can go in the spotlight — a person, a thing, a time or a place. It is the natural way to correct someone.
Both save the spotlight for the end of the sentence. All adds one extra meaning: nothing more than this.
What I want is a coffee.
What keeps them safe is careful planning and attention to detail.
All I want is a coffee. (nothing else)
A what-clause is always singular: is, never are.
What they want ^ to stay safe.
Correct: What they want is to stay safe.
It was my sister which paid.
Correct: it was my sister who paid.
What keeps them safe are careful planning…
Correct: what keeps them safe is careful planning…
All what I want is a coffee.
Correct: All I want is a coffee.
Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.
WhatA surprised the committee mostB were the tone of the letterC, notD its content.
Cwere the tone of the letter → was the tone of the letter
✓ a what-cleft takes a singular verb
It was my colleagues adviceA thatB persuaded me toC apply, andD I have never regretted it.
AIt was my colleagues advice → It was my colleague's advice
✓ a possessive noun needs an apostrophe
WhatA the committee wanted wasB a clear timetable, butC what they got it wasD a vague promise.
Dwhat they got it was → but what they got was
✓ no extra pronoun in a what-cleft
Use It's … that, What … is or All … is.
No be, no cleft — find the verb before you say the sentence.