Grammar

Fronting and Emphasis

Fronting moves a word or phrase to the start of a sentence to give it emphasis or to improve cohesion. The element is highlighted simply by its unusual position.

Post

Level C1 Sentence Structure & Emphasis

Summary

Fronting moves a word or phrase to the start of a sentence to give it emphasis or to improve cohesion. The element is highlighted simply by its unusual position.

Structure

fronted element + rest of clause (sometimes with inversion)

Examples

This book I really recommend.
Down the hill rolled the barrel.
Such was her anger that she left without a word.
Strange though it sounds, it's true.

Common mistakes

• Inverting subject and verb when the fronted element doesn't require it.
• Fronting so much that the sentence becomes hard to follow.

Related

Cleft Sentences Inversion After Negative Adverbials

More sentence structure & emphasis

Basic Word Order A1

English statements normally follow subject + verb + object order. Adverbs and time expressions go in fixed positions rather than between the verb and its object.

And, But, Or A1

These conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. 'And' adds, 'but' contrasts, and 'or' offers a choice.

Inversion After Negative Adverbials C2

When a negative or restrictive adverbial begins a sentence for emphasis, the subject and auxiliary invert as in a question. This is a formal, dramatic device.

Cleft Sentences C1

Cleft sentences split one idea into two clauses to emphasise a particular element. 'It-clefts' begin with 'It is/was', and 'what-clefts' (pseudo-clefts) begin with a 'what'-clause.

Subjunctive / Were C1

English keeps a small subjunctive. The present subjunctive uses the base verb after verbs of demand or suggestion, and the past subjunctive 'were' is used for all persons in unreal conditions.

Ellipsis and Substitution C1

To avoid repetition, English omits words (ellipsis) or replaces them with shorter forms like 'so', 'do', 'one', and 'neither' (substitution). Both keep sentences economical and cohesive.

External links

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