Rule reminder
At B2 level, learners must be able to identify cleft sentences in authentic texts, understand what element is in focus, and explain why the writer chose a cleft. Types to identify: standard cleft (È...che), pseudo-cleft (Quello che...è), extended pseudo-cleft (Il motivo per cui...è), reverse pseudo-cleft (È...quello che), negative cleft (Non è...che). Each type creates focus on a different element and has a different pragmatic effect.
Text: 'Il motivo per cui molti giovani abbandonano gli studi non è l'incapacità, ma la mancanza di supporto.' — Is this a cleft or pseudo-cleft? Explain: