je to X, kdo / který
Cleft Focus with Je to
The je to X, kdo/který pattern is an emphatic cleft construction (důrazově vytýkací konstrukce). It is used to heavily emphasize a specific element. While it often carries an exhaustive interpretation (meaning it was X and no one else), it is also used to increase emotional impact or highlight a strong contrast.
How It Works
This construction is a syntactic borrowing (calque) from languages with fixed word order (like English or French) and is often found in formal writing or translated texts. While understood in spoken Czech, it can sound slightly artificial. Native speakers overwhelmingly prefer sentence-final focus (moving the emphasized word to the end of the sentence) or focus particles like právě for emphasis.
Use this cleft when you need an exhaustive interpretation (to explicitly state that it was this person or thing and nothing else). To reinforce this exhaustive focus, the particle právě is frequently used inside the cleft itself (e.g., Je to právě Petr, kdo... – It is exactly Petr who...). You will also often encounter a reversed word order variation where the emphasized element is fronted (e.g., Petr to byl, kdo... – Petr was the one who...).
When choosing a relative pronoun, kdo is used for personal referents (e.g., Je to Petr, kdo... – It is Petr who...). For inanimate objects, co is the standard relative pronoun in true cleft sentences (e.g., Jsou to peníze, co... – It is money that...). Using který for inanimate objects is questionable in clefts, as it tends to form a standard copular sentence instead. Additionally, this pattern can emphasize time or place using the relative adverbs kdy or kde.
When the focused element is a noun phrase, Standard Czech strongly prefers keeping it in the nominative case, regardless of its grammatical role in the relative clause. The relative pronoun then takes whatever case or preposition the subordinate clause requires (e.g., Je to Petr, koho hledám. – It is Petr whom I am looking for; Je to Petr, s kým chci mluvit. – It is Petr with whom I want to speak.). However, if the focused element is an adverbial of time, place, or means, it retains its preposition or non-nominative case (e.g., Bylo to v Praze, kde jsme se poznali. – It was in Prague where we met.).
When the focused element is a 1st or 2nd person pronoun, Czech allows a dual possibility of agreement (dvojí možnost shody) for the verb in the relative clause. It can either remain in the 3rd person singular to agree with kdo (e.g., Jsem to já, kdo to udělal. – It is me who did it.), or it can agree with the 1st/2nd person pronoun from the main clause (e.g., Jsem to já, kdo jsem to udělal. – It is me who did it.). Both are grammatically correct.
Examples (6)
- Byl to můj nejlepší přítel, kdo mě přivedl na tu myšlenku.
It was my best friend who gave me the idea.
Word by Word: Was it my best friend, who me brought onto that idea.
A classic example of the cleft construction. Notice the mandatory comma and the use of 'kdo' for a person.
- Je to Tom, koho hledáme.
It's Tom whom we're looking for.
Word by Word: Is it Tom, whom we-look-for.
The focused element 'Tom' is in the nominative, but the relative pronoun 'koho' is in the accusative because it is the direct object of 'hledáme'.
- Je to ten hluk, co mi vadí.
It is the noise that bothers me.
Word by Word: Is it that noise, what to-me bothers.
For inanimate objects or concepts like 'hluk' (noise), the relative pronoun 'co' is the standard choice in cleft sentences.
- Jsou to peníze, co nám chybí.
It is money that we lack.
Word by Word: Are it money, what to-us is-missing.
Notice the plural verb 'Jsou'. The verb 'být' must agree in number with the focused element ('peníze' is plural), even though the pronoun 'to' remains singular. Also note the use of 'co' for inanimate objects.
- Jsem to já, kdo tě miluje.
It is me who loves you.
Word by Word: Am it I, who you loves.
Notice that the copula 'být' agrees in person with the 1st person pronoun 'já' ('Jsem to já'). The verb in the relative clause ('miluje') is in the 3rd person singular, but 'kdo tě miluji' would also be grammatically correct due to the dual possibility of agreement.
- Je to Petr, s kým chci mluvit.
It is Petr with whom I want to speak.
Word by Word: Is it Petr, with whom I-want to-speak.
When the focused element is governed by a preposition in the relative clause, it remains in the nominative case ('Petr'). The preposition ('s') appears only before the relative pronoun ('kým').
Common Mistakes
Using a cleft sentence when plain word order is enough.
Different MeaningByl to Petr, kdo koupil to auto.To auto koupil Petr.In English, clefts are standard for focusing elements. In Czech, you usually just move the emphasized information to the end of the sentence (the rheme). Save the cleft construction for strong contrast or exhaustive focus.
Failing to make the verb agree in number with the focused element, or forgetting the comma.
Je to peníze co potřebujeme.Jsou to peníze, co potřebujeme.The verb 'být' must agree in number with the focused element ('peníze' is plural, so 'Jsou'), and a comma is strictly required before the relative pronoun. Remember that 'co' is the normal relative pronoun in everyday speech; careful writing prefers 'které'.
Failing to make the main clause copula agree with 1st/2nd person pronouns.
Je to já, kdo to udělal.Jsem to já, kdo to udělal.When the focused element is a 1st or 2nd person pronoun, the main verb 'být' must agree with it ('Jsem to já', not 'Je to já'). In the relative clause, you have a choice: the verb can either be in the 3rd person singular ('kdo to udělal') or agree with the main clause pronoun ('kdo jsem to udělal'). Both are correct.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the cleft focus pattern 'je to X, kdo/který', a learner must first be comfortable with basic identification sentences using 'to je' and the use of relative pronouns like 'který' and 'kdo' to connect clauses.
- kterýRelative Pronoun Který
The cleft focus pattern uses the relative pronoun 'který' to link the focused element to the rest of the clause.
Level 3 - kdo / coQuestion Pronouns Who and What
Understanding the basic pronouns 'kdo' and 'co' is necessary as they function as relative markers in this cleft construction.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Sentence-final focus
Sentence-final focus is the standard, everyday way to emphasize an element in Czech. Learners should use this instead of overusing cleft constructions.
Level 4 - právě + Focused PhraseExact Focus with Právě
Using the particle 'právě' is a natural, common way to add explicit emphasis in Czech without resorting to a heavy syntactic cleft.
Level 5 - ten, kdo / to, coFree Relative Kdo and Co
Pseudo-clefts and free relatives use similar pronouns but have a different structure (e.g., 'To, co potřebuju, je klid' vs. the cleft 'Je to klid, co potřebuju').
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
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