French Cleft Sentences: Emphasize with 'C'est... qui/que' and 'Ce qui/que... c'est'
Learn to emphasize information in French using cleft structures like 'C'est Ana qui a appelé' and 'Ce que j'aime, c'est le café', distinct from do-emphasis.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In French, to emphasize a specific element of a sentence, you often use cleft structures: 'C'est... qui/que' (It is... that/who) and 'Ce qui/que... c'est' (What... is). These differ from English do-emphasis (e.g., 'I do like it') and allow you to highlight the subject, object, or other elements. This lesson teaches you how to form and use these structures accurately, with attention to agreement and register.
By the end, you can…
- form sentences using 'C'est... qui' to emphasize the subject.
- form sentences using 'C'est... que' to emphasize the object or other elements.
- use 'Ce qui... c'est' and 'Ce que... c'est' to emphasize what something is.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
C'est Ana qui a appelé.
It was Ana who called.
say tah-nah kee ah ah-play
Emphasizes the subject 'Ana' as the caller. Use 'qui' because it refers to the subject of the following clause.
C'est le café que je préfère.
It's coffee that I prefer.
say luh kah-fay kuh zhuh pray-fair
Emphasizes the object 'le café'. Use 'que' because it is the object of 'préfère'.
Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la musique.
What interests me is music.
suh kee man-tay-ress, say lah mew-zeek
Emphasizes the subject of interest. 'Ce qui' acts as the subject of 'intéresse'.
Ce que je veux, c'est un café.
What I want is a coffee.
suh kuh zhuh vuh, say tun kah-fay
Emphasizes the object wanted. 'Ce que' is the object of 'veux'.
C'est à Paris que nous nous sommes rencontrés.
It was in Paris that we met.
say tah pah-ree kuh noo noo som ron-tray
Emphasizes a place or time adverbial. Use 'que' even for non-subject elements.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic cleft pattern is 'C'est + emphasized element + qui/que + rest of sentence'. Use 'qui' if the emphasized element is the subject of the verb that follows; use 'que' if it is the object or an adverbial. For example: 'C'est Marie qui parle' (Marie is speaking) vs. 'C'est Marie que je vois' (It's Marie that I see). For emphasizing what someone wants or likes, use 'Ce qui/que... c'est': 'Ce qui est important, c'est la santé' (What is important is health). Note that 'c'est' can become 'ce sont' before a plural noun in very formal French, but 'c'est' is common in speech: 'C'est mes amis qui arrivent' (colloquial) vs. 'Ce sont mes amis qui arrivent' (formal).
When to use it
Use cleft structures to highlight information, often to correct or contrast. For instance, if someone says 'Paul a appelé', and you want to insist it was Ana, you say 'C'est Ana qui a appelé'. Similarly, to answer 'Qu'est-ce que tu veux?' you might reply 'Ce que je veux, c'est un thé'. These structures are common in both speech and writing, but 'ce qui/ce que... c'est' is slightly more informal and often used in conversation. Avoid overusing them; they are for emphasis, not neutral statements. In writing, 'ce sont' is preferred before plural nouns: 'Ce sont les enfants qui ont gagné'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Qui a téléphoné hier soir ?
Who called last night?kee ah tay-lay-fo-nay yehr swarC'est Sophie qui a téléphoné.
It was Sophie who called.say so-fee kee ah tay-lay-fo-nayAh bon ? Et qu'est-ce qu'elle voulait ?
Really? And what did she want?ah bon? ay kess kel voo-layCe qu'elle voulait, c'était t'inviter à dîner.
What she wanted was to invite you to dinner.suh kel voo-lay, say-tay tan-vee-tay ah dee-nayA little context goes a long way
In French, cleft sentences are very common in everyday conversation to emphasize or contrast information. While 'c'est... qui/que' is neutral in register, 'ce qui/ce que... c'est' is slightly more informal and often used in spoken French. In formal writing, 'ce sont' is preferred before plural nouns. Be aware that overusing cleft structures can sound emphatic or theatrical; use them when you genuinely need to highlight something.
One thing to watch for
Using 'que' when the emphasized element is the subject, e.g., 'C'est Ana que a appelé'.
Try this instead: Use 'qui' for the subject: 'C'est Ana qui a appelé.' Remember: 'qui' replaces the subject, 'que' replaces the object or adverbial.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Rewrite with emphasis on 'Paul': 'Paul a mangé le gâteau.'
Show a sample answer
C'est Paul qui a mangé le gâteau.
'Paul' is the subject of 'a mangé', so use 'qui'. 'C'est Paul que a mangé' is incorrect.
2Emphasize 'le gâteau' in 'Paul a mangé le gâteau.'
Show a sample answer
C'est le gâteau que Paul a mangé.
'Le gâteau' is the direct object, so use 'que'. Note that 'que' becomes 'qu'' before a vowel: 'C'est le gâteau qu'il a mangé.'
3Translate with emphasis: 'What I like is French music.'
Show a sample answer
Ce que j'aime, c'est la musique française.
'Ce que' is the object of 'aime', and 'c'est' introduces the emphasized element. Alternatively, 'Ce qui me plaît, c'est la musique française.'
Use 'c'est... qui' for subjects, 'c'est... que' for objects/adverbials, and 'ce qui/que... c'est' to emphasize what something is. Remember agreement and register.
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