det är...som

Det Är...som Construction

Level 3

Use Det är [emphasized part] som [rest of the sentence] to put focus on a specific piece of information.

How It Works

A cleft sentence is a powerful tool for focusing the listener's or reader's attention on a specific piece of information. The basic structure is:

Det är/var + [Emphasized Element] + som + [Rest of the Sentence]

You start with a basic sentence and decide which part you want to emphasize. Let's take the sentence: Kalle läser boken i parken. (Kalle is reading the book in the park).

You can emphasize different parts:

  • Subject: `Det är Kalle som läser boken i parken.` (It is Kalle who is reading the book in the park.)
  • Object: `Det är boken som Kalle läser i parken.` (It is the book that Kalle is reading in the park.)
  • Adverbial (Place): `Det är i parken som Kalle läser boken.` (It is in the park that Kalle is reading the book.)

For an ordinary past-time version, use var: `Det var Kalle som läste boken.` (It was Kalle who read the book).

The ordinary overt connector in this pattern is som. The clause following som is a relative clause, which is a type of subordinate clause. This means it follows subordinate clause word order rules (like the BIFF rule). For instance, sentence adverbs like inte must come before the verb: `Det är Kalle som inte läser boken.` (It is Kalle who is not reading the book).

When Som Can Be Omitted
If the focused element corresponds to the subject of the relative clause, keep som: Det var Kalle som läste boken. When another subject is already present, som is often optional: Det var boken (som) Kalle läste and Det var i parken (som) Kalle läste boken.

Keep the form required by the focused element’s role: Det var honom (som) jag såg uses object honom, while Det var han som såg mig uses subject han. The cleft identifies the focused participant or circumstance against the rest of the event, rather than merely moving a word to the beginning.

Examples (5)

  1. Det är jag som har nycklarna.

    It's me who has the keys.

    Word by Word: It is I that have the-keys.

    Here, the subject 'jag' (I) is emphasized. The original sentence would be 'Jag har nycklarna.'

  2. Det var den filmen som vi såg igår.

    It was that movie that we saw yesterday.

    Word by Word: It was that movie that we saw yesterday.

    The object 'den filmen' (that movie) is emphasized. The past tense is used ('Det var').

  3. Det är på måndag som mötet börjar.

    It's on Monday that the meeting starts.

    Word by Word: It is on Monday that the-meeting starts.

    This example emphasizes the time adverbial 'på måndag' (on Monday).

  4. Det är i köket som jag trivs bäst.

    It's in the kitchen that I feel most at home.

    Word by Word: It is in the-kitchen that I thrive best.

    Here, the place adverbial 'i köket' (in the kitchen) is the focus.

  5. Var det med Anna som du pratade?

    Was it with Anna that you were talking?

    Word by Word: Was it with Anna that you talked?

    Cleft sentences can also be used to form questions, often to confirm a specific piece of information.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting som in a subject cleft.

    Det var han lagade maten.
    Det var han som lagade maten.

    Here the focused han corresponds to the subject of lagade, so the ordinary subject-cleft construction needs som. This differs from an object cleft such as Det var maten (som) han lagade, where som can be omitted.

  • Using 'att' instead of 'som'.

    Det var bilen att han ville köpa.
    Det var bilen som han ville köpa.

    Use som or omit the connector in this object cleft: Det var bilen (som) han ville köpa. Do not substitute att by directly translating English “that”.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

det är...somLevel 3Det Är...som Construction

Learn This First

To learn cleft sentences (utbrytning), you need to understand how to frame a sentence using 'det är/var' and how to use the relative pronoun 'som' to connect the emphasized part to the rest of the information. Since the 'som' part follows subordinate clause word order, familiarity with the BIFF rule is essential for correct placement of words like 'inte'.

Words in This Pattern