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Emphasis Structures

The document outlines various emphasis structures in English, including inversion, cleft sentences, and fronting. Inversion changes the typical word order for emphasis, while cleft sentences split clauses to highlight specific elements. Fronting involves moving phrases to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, with examples provided for each structure.

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2 views2 pages

Emphasis Structures

The document outlines various emphasis structures in English, including inversion, cleft sentences, and fronting. Inversion changes the typical word order for emphasis, while cleft sentences split clauses to highlight specific elements. Fronting involves moving phrases to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, with examples provided for each structure.

Uploaded by

kleofasmilusinski
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Emphasis Structures — Inversion, Clefts, Fronting

Inversion - changing the normal word order so the verb (or auxiliary) comes before the
subject.

1) After Negative or Restrictive Adverbials


Structure: Negative adverbial + auxiliary/main verb + subject

 Never have I seen such confusion.


 Rarely does she miss a deadline.
 Under no circumstances should you open the door.

If there is no auxiliary verb, use “do” support:

 Seldom do I watch TV.

2) After Adverbials of Place (Here/There)


Structure: Here/There + main verb + subject

 Here comes the bus.


 There stood a tall oak tree.

3) With “So” or “Such” for Emphasis


Structure: So/Such + adjective/noun phrase + auxiliary + subject

 So brilliant was her answer that everyone applauded.


 Such was his power that nobody opposed him.

4) Conditional Inversion (Formal “If” Clauses)


Structure: Auxiliary + subject + main clause

 Had I known, I would have acted differently. (If I had known...)


 Were she to ask, I would help. (If she were to ask...)
 Should you need me, call anytime. (If you should need me...)

5) After “Only” + Adverbial


Structure: Only + adverbial + auxiliary + subject

 Only then did I realize my mistake.


 Only by working together can we finish on time.

Cleft Sentences - splitting one clause into two to give focus to a specific element.

1. It-Clefts
Structure: It + be + focus + (that/who) + clause
 It was John who opened the window.
 It was in Paris that she met him.
 It is honesty that I value most.

2. Wh-Clefts (Pseudo-Clefts)
Structure: Wh-word + clause + be + focus

 What she needs is a holiday.


 Where he went was nowhere familiar.

3. Reversed Clefts (There-Clefts)


Structure: There + be + noun phrase + who/that + clause

 There is the reason why we left.


 There was the man who solved it.

Fronting - moving a phrase to the start of the sentence for emphasis or to set the topic.

 Common Types

 Adverbials: Yesterday, I received the package.


 Objects: That book, I haven’t read yet.
 Prepositional phrases: On the hill stood a cottage.

Fronting can include inversion (On the hill stood a cottage) or not (On the hill, a cottage
stood).

 Dislocation (Colloquial Speech)


Structure: Fronted phrase + comma + clause with pronoun

 That book, I haven’t read it yet.

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