This paper studies the use of cleft constructions in argumentative writing by Chinese EFL writers, as compared comparison to a native English corpus. The study has found that there are significant differences in the use of cleft constructions between Chinese EFL learners and the English native speakers, and also among different levels of Chinese EFL learners, showing fluctuating patterns in the use of cleft “it” and pseudo clefts. In terms of the specific cleft construction types, there exist both overuse and under-use problems in Chinese EFL learners’ writing. The findings of this study may contribute to the understanding of the learners’ interlanguage syntactic development and have implications for the teaching of EFL writing.