1. Three different devices
A cleft divides an idea into two parts: the left-hand part prepares the listener, and the part after be supplies the focus. In this rule, the left-hand part begins with all, the thing or the reason rather than what.
All identifies the complete extent of what is needed or done in the context. The thing highlights the matter under discussion; the reason highlights a cause. These frames can appear together in a longer statement. Choose according to what you want to emphasise.
All / The thing / The reason + (relative link) + subject + verb + be + focus
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
All I need is a quiet hour.
All I need is a quiet hour.
All limits the need: nothing else is required.
The thing that tires me most is the commute.
The thing that tires me most is the commute.
Conversational emphasis identifies what causes the greatest tiredness.
The reason I'm writing is that the invoice is wrong.
The reason I'm writing is that the invoice is wrong.
The part after be gives the reason for the action in the left-hand part.
2. The all-cleft: 'only this'
All in the left-hand part means 'the whole of what is needed, available or done is…'. Speakers often use it to present a request as modest, but the amount may be large or include several things. The limitation concerns the complete list of needs, not necessarily the small size of each one.
All I want is a new house and a year off is grammatically and logically possible: the speaker names the whole request. A large request after all may sound ironic or understated in context, but the construction itself creates no contradiction.
In All (that) I want, relative that is an object and may be omitted. When it is the subject before a finite verb, retain it: All that matters is your safety. All what I want is not the standard pattern.
All + (that) + subject + verb + be + the complete stated requirement
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
All the team wants is a clear deadline.
All the team wants is a clear deadline.
The speaker presents a clear deadline as the whole outcome the team needs in this context.
All I'm after is a straight answer.
All I'm after is a straight answer.
A conversational version using the preposition after.
All I want is a bit more time and your whole budget.
All I want is a bit more time and your whole budget.
All covers both stated needs. The large request may sound ironic, but does not grammatically or logically contradict all.
3. All … do is (to) V
All + subject + do + be highlights the complete set of actions being named. It may contain one action or several: All you have to do is sign the form and send it back.
After be, the focused verb is an infinitive, with or without to. A past-tense form after was is incorrect in this pattern: the finite part already expresses past time, as in All he did was ask a question.
In the basic present example All she does is complain, does and is fit the current situation. Choose each part's tense according to meaning; a simple instruction to copy the tense cannot cover every possible statement.
All + subject + do/does/did + be + (to) V · All + subject + have/has to do + be + (to) V
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
All he did was ask a question.
All he did was ask a question.
One action, with a bare infinitive after was.
All you have to do is press the green button.
All you have to do is press the green button.
An instruction framed as requiring only a minimal step.
All she does is complain.
All she does is complain.
Present time is expressed by does and is.
4. The thing-cleft: conversational emphasis
The thing + that/which + verb highlights a focus in conversation: The thing that surprised me was the price. When the relative word is an object, it can be omitted: The thing I admire about her is her patience.
A word before thing changes the nuance. The only thing and the one thing add a restriction; the first thing marks order; the best thing evaluates. The thing alone does not imply a minimal requirement.
There is also a conversational opening, The thing is, …, followed by a complete clause giving a qualification or explanation: The thing is, we're short on time.
The (only/one/first/best) thing + (that/which) + subject/verb + be + focus
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
The thing I admire about her is her patience.
The thing I admire about her is her patience.
The relative word is omitted because it would be the object of admire.
The one thing I'd change is the font.
The one thing I'd change is the font.
One adds a restriction.
The thing is, we're short on time.
The thing is, we're short on time.
A discourse opening followed by a complete clause after the comma.
5. The reason-cleft: explaining a cause
The reason + (why/that) + subject + verb + be + that-clause explains a cause: The reason we hired her is that she asks good questions. After reason, use why, that or no linking word.
If the left-hand part names the event with a noun, use for: The reason for the refund was a damaged box. Be agrees with singular reason, regardless of number within the following that-clause.
A to-infinitive can also express the reason after be: The reason I came was to apologise. The most reliable neutral pattern for this lesson is a that-clause after be.
The reason (why/that) + subject + verb + be + that-clause / to V
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- clause —
- A construction with a verb, often with its own subject: when I arrived. A non-finite clause may leave the subject unspoken: to get home.
The reason we hired her is that she asks good questions.
The reason we hired her is that she asks good questions.
The that-clause names the reason.
The reason for the refund was a damaged box.
The reason for the refund was a damaged box.
For + noun appears on the left; the focus after be is a noun phrase.
The reason I came was to apologise.
The reason I came was to apologise.
The to-infinitive expresses the purpose.
6. What follows be?
The focus after be can take different forms depending on the left-hand part. Common possibilities include a noun phrase, a fair hearing; a that-clause, is that you listen; a to-infinitive, is to sleep; or for + subject + to V, is for you to be happy.
After all … do, use an infinitive with or without to. After a left-hand part containing want, ask for or need, the focus is usually a noun phrase or infinitive. Its form must complete the left-hand meaning logically.
All I want is to sleep.
All I want is to sleep.
A to-infinitive.
All I want is for you to be happy.
All I want is for you to be happy.
For + subject + to V.
All I need is that you confirm by Friday.
All I need is that you confirm by Friday.
A that-clause in a more formal style.
7. Choosing the device: register and boundaries
All explicitly presents the named content as everything needed in the relevant context. A what-cleft does not contain this limiting word, but can also receive an exhaustive reading. What I need is a break does not assert that other needs necessarily exist.
A thing-cleft sounds conversational. An all-cleft works in both formal and informal registers: vocabulary such as require or request and uncontracted forms can make it fully formal. A reason-cleft is neutral.
This lesson covers all/the thing/the reason + be + focus. Wh-clefts with what and reversed patterns with initial focus have their own rules; they appear here only for comparison.
What I need is a break.
What I need is a break.
What highlights the need. The form alone does not establish whether there are other needs in the situation.
All I need is a break.
All I need is a break.
All limits the relevant need to this one item.
All we request is a written reply.
All we request is a written reply.
Formal vocabulary preserves the exclusive meaning in an official letter.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:All what we expect is a reply by Friday.
Correct:All we expect is a reply by Friday.
Do not use what after all in the standard pattern. Use all + subject + verb; relative that is also possible.
Incorrect:The thing what annoys me is the noise.
Correct:The thing that annoys me is the noise.
After thing, use that or which rather than what.
Incorrect:All the guide did was explained the route.
Correct:All the guide did was explain the route.
After be, the focused verb has no past-tense ending. A to-infinitive is also possible.
Incorrect:The thing that bother them is the delay.
Correct:The thing that bothers them is the delay.
Relative that is the subject, so the verb agrees with singular thing.
Incorrect:The reason we left are that it rained.
Correct:The reason we left is that it rained.
Be agrees with singular reason, not with the clause following it.