The idea: the focus moves to the beginning
In a standard pseudocleft, the wh-clause comes first, followed by the focused element: “What impressed the judges was her calm under pressure.” A reversed pseudocleft switches the two sides of be: the focus opens the sentence, and the wh-clause completes it.
The content does not change; the distribution of attention does. The focus occupies the subject position, so the listener immediately sees what the sentence is about, while the subordinate clause specifies the role that element plays.
This is a rearrangement within the same construction, so the wh-word, the form of the subordinate clause and its “gap” remain the same as in the standard version.
Focus + is/was + what (why, where, how, when) + clause
- 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.
Her calm under pressure is what impressed the judges.
Her calm under pressure is what impressed the judges.
The focus comes first; is is followed by a what-clause in which what is the subject.
What impressed the judges was her calm under pressure.
What impressed the judges was her calm under pressure.
The standard version for comparison: the same content, but with the focus at the end.
Reliable data is what every good forecast stands on.
Reliable data is what every good forecast stands on.
The preposition on remains in the subordinate clause, and what stands for what would follow it.
The subordinate clause: gaps, word order and prepositions
Be is followed by an ordinary subordinate clause with statement order. What fills the role of the element “missing” from that clause, so there is no second copy of the focus: a pronoun repeating it is redundant.
The subordinate clause has no question inversion: what we need, not what do we need. Emphatic do is possible with ordinary word order: what we do need. In the basic pattern with what, the preposition usually remains in the subordinate clause: what we depend on.
What can be the subject of the subordinate clause (what broke the deadlock) or its object (what we need). Both patterns can follow is because the focus identifies the element represented by what.
Quiet evenings are what I miss most about the village.
Quiet evenings are what I miss most about the village.
What is the object of miss; there is no second object in the subordinate clause.
A second opinion is what the patient asked for.
A second opinion is what the patient asked for.
The preposition for comes at the end of the subordinate clause.
Rising costs are what forced the studio to close.
Rising costs are what forced the studio to close.
What is the subject of the subordinate clause here, so there is no additional subject before forced.
Choosing the wh-word: what, why, where, how, when, who
The wh-word matches the relevant relationship: what for a thing or content, why for a reason, where for a place, how for a manner, and when for a time. Who is possible for a person, although the frame the person who is often clearer; this is not a universal rule that who is more formal.
What occupies a participant role in the subordinate clause. Why, where, how and when connect it to a reason, place, manner or time. Do not duplicate that role with an extra element; whether the rest is complete depends on the particular verb and construction.
The focus can be expressed by a noun, a gerund or a demonstrative. Choose the wh-word according to meaning, not the grammatical form of the focus.
The old quarry is where the first fossils were found.
The old quarry is where the first fossils were found.
The focus names a place; the rest of the subordinate clause is complete.
Cost-cutting is why the lab closed its second site.
Cost-cutting is why the lab closed its second site.
The focus names a reason; the rest of the subordinate clause is complete.
Careful sampling is how the team avoided bias.
Careful sampling is how the team avoided bias.
The focus names a method.
Late spring is when the glacier melts fastest.
Late spring is when the glacier melts fastest.
The focus names a time.
Marta is who the committee wants to hear from.
Marta is who the committee wants to hear from.
Who connects the person to the object of hear from. You can also say Marta is the person the committee wants to hear from.
This and that as the focus: linking neighbouring sentences
That is what I mean and This is why we met are common ways to connect a remark to its context. That often picks up something already said, while this can introduce an explanation; both can also refer to preceding content, depending on the speaker's focus.
This makes the form useful for summarising a list: the listener has heard several facts, and a short sentence with That identifies their shared cause or consequence.
Three resignations in a month. That is what has the board worried.
Three resignations in a month. That is what has the board worried.
That picks up the fact just mentioned.
This is what the data shows: most visitors leave within ten seconds.
This is what the data shows: most visitors leave within ten seconds.
This announces what follows.
Prices fell and wages stalled. That is why people stopped spending.
Prices fell and wages stalled. That is why people stopped spending.
That summarises two facts and links them to the reason for what follows.
When to choose the reversed order
Information in a sentence usually moves from familiar to new. A standard pseudocleft prepares the listener for a new element at the end. A reversed pseudocleft is natural when the focus has already been mentioned or is clear from the conversation, or when you want to put the answer first.
The reversed form is often called “more emphatic”. More precisely, the first position attracts attention, but the end of a sentence is also prominent, so neither form is always stronger. The difference lies in the connection to context: the reversed form naturally responds to a remark, refers back and sounds like a clear assertion.
That is what/why is common in conversation. In writing and speeches, a longer noun-phrase focus can act as a thesis that the subordinate clause develops.
Sustained funding is what separates durable institutions from fashionable ones.
Sustained funding is what separates durable institutions from fashionable ones.
The long noun-phrase focus acts as a thesis.
The colleagues are what keep me here.
The colleagues are what keep me here.
An answer to a question about why the person stays: the topic is already established.
Neighbouring constructions: it-clefts, standard pseudoclefts, all-clefts and thing-clefts
An it-cleft has a different frame: It was her calm that impressed the judges. Some it-clefts allow the relative marker to be omitted, but in this example that is the subject of impressed and remains. In a reversed pseudocleft, use be + what.
Standard pseudoclefts and constructions with All and The thing (All I need is…, The thing I need is…) have separate rules in this topic. Here they serve only as comparisons: we are practising the construction in which the focus opens the sentence and a wh-word follows be.
It is patience that wins arguments with the board.
It is patience that wins arguments with the board.
An it-cleft uses the frame It is … that: here, that rather than what.
Boundaries and pitfalls
Do not confuse be + what with be + a that-clause: in The problem is that nobody owns the schedule, that introduces a complete content clause. This is a different construction.
Do not add that after what, repeat the focus inside the subordinate clause, use question word order or lose the final preposition.
Check whether the emphasis is needed. Repeated reversed pseudoclefts can create deliberate parallelism or make a text feel overloaded; the stylistic choice depends on context.
The problem is that nobody owns the schedule.
The problem is that nobody owns the schedule.
This is be + a that-clause, not a reversed pseudocleft.
Nobody owning the schedule is what worries me.
Nobody owning the schedule is what worries me.
Here, the gerund phrase serving as the focus comes first, and is is followed by a what-clause.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Fresh air is that helps her concentrate.
Correct:Fresh air is what helps her concentrate.
A reversed pseudocleft needs what after be here because the subordinate clause needs a subject; that does not fit.
Incorrect:A softer tone is what we want it.
Correct:A softer tone is what we want.
What already serves as the object of want, so the pronoun it duplicates the focus.
Incorrect:Stable funding is what do researchers depend on.
Correct:Stable funding is what researchers depend on.
The subordinate clause uses statement order: after what, the subject comes before the verb, without question-forming do.
Incorrect:Her openness is what I was drawn.
Correct:Her openness is what I was drawn to.
The preposition to belongs to be drawn to and remains at the end of the subordinate clause.
Incorrect:The strike is what the trains were cancelled.
Correct:The strike is why the trains were cancelled.
The subordinate clause is complete, and the focus names a reason, so use why, not what.