Cleft sentences (It was in June we got

married.)
from English Grammar Today
We use cleft sentences, especially in speaking, to connect what is already understood
to what is new to the listener. In a cleft sentence, a single message is divided (cleft)
into two clauses. This allows us to focus on the new information.

It-cleft sentences
It-clauses are the most common type of cleft clause. The information that comes
after itis emphasised for the listener. The clause which follows the it-clause is
connected using that and it contains information that is already understood. We often
omit that in informal situations when it is the object of the verb:
A:
Sharons car got broken into yesterday, did it?
B:
No. It was Ninas car that got broken into!
Focus (new information): it was Ninas car
Understood already (old information): a car got broken into
A:
Youve met my mother, havent you?
B:
No, it was your sister (that) I met!
Focus (new information): it was your sister
Understood already (old information): I met someone in your family
Is it August that you are going on holiday?
Focus (new information): the month August?
Understood already (old information): you are going on holiday

When a personal subject is the focus, we can use who instead of that. We often
omit who in informal situations when it is the object of the verb:
It was my husband who (or that) you spoke to on the phone. (or It was my husband
you spoke to on the phone.)
When a plural subject is the focus, we use a plural verb but It + be remains singular:
Its the parents who were protesting most.
We can use negative structures in the it-clause:
It wasnt the Greek student who phoned.

Wh-cleft sentences (What I need is a holiday)

Wh-cleft sentences are most often introduced by what, but we can also use why,
where, how, etc. The information in the wh-clause is typically old or understood
information, while the information in the following clause is new and in focus:
A:
I dont know what to cook for them? I dont know what they like.
B:
What they like is smoked salmon.
Understood already (old information): we are talking about what they like to eat
Focus (new information): they like smoked salmon
A:
This remote control isnt working.
B:
What we need to do is get new batteries for it.
Understood already (old information): there is something that we need to do to fix the
remote control.
Focus (new information): we need to buy new batteries