There are a number of options which we can use to add emphasis or focus within a clause.
Indirect object versus prepositional complement
When we talk about someone receiving something, we can express it using the typical word order: indirect object (io) + direct object (do).
If we want to bring more emphasis or focus to the recipient, we can use a prepositional complement (pc) instead of an indirect object.
| Typical word order: IO + DO |
| Untypical word order: DO + PC Putting the prepositional complement at the end brings more emphasis and focus to the person who received the present. |
In formal contexts, we sometimes put prepositional complements in front position so as to bring focus to the new information given in the direct object:
[PC]For his wife, he wrote[DO = focus]a beautiful poem.
We don’t normally put indirect objects in front position:
He passed Williams the ball.
Not:Williams he passed the ball.
See also:
Complements
Active and passive voice
Active voiceis the typical word order.That is when we put the subject (the doer) first, followed by the new information (which is the focus):
Lesley has written four successful novels.
If we use the passive voice, we can often omit who the doer is:
The cake was cut.(no doer)
Or we can place the doer in a prepositional phrase after the verb. When we do this, we focus on the doer:
The music was playedbya local quartet.(doer in prepositional phrase after the verb)
The hotel was runbya quaint couple from Wales.
See also:
Passive: active and passive
Cleft sentences
Cleft means ‘divided’ and in a cleft sentencea single message is divided across two clauses. We use cleft sentences, especially in speaking, to connect what is already understood to what is new to the listener. By doing this we can focus on the new information. There are different types of cleft sentence.
It-cleft sentences
In these sentences, the focus is on theit-clause and this is where we put the new information (underlined below). We usethatto connect another clause containing information which is already understood by the listener:
A:Did you find your MP3 player, Lisa?
B:Itwasmy phonethatI’d lost. I found it under the couch. (Focus:it was my phone(not my MP3 player). Already understood: I’d lost something.)
Wh-cleft sentences
Wh-cleft sentences are introduced by awh-word, usuallywhat. The old information is in thewh-clause and the new information (underlined) is at the end:
WhatI love about you isyour sense of humour.
Whereyou’ll find great seafood isMolly’s Seafood Restaurant on the quay.
See also:
Cleft sentences (It was in June we got married.)
The thing,the one thing,something
The thing
We can usethe thingin front position plus a form of the verbbeto bring attention to an item in the clause. It means the same aswhatplusbe, but it is more informal (the focus in each sentence is underlined below):
The thingI like most about Italyisthe food.(orWhat I like most about Italy is the food.)
We can use a singular verb even if the item we focus on is plural:
The thingI like most about Scotlandisthe castles.
When we focus on athat-clause, we can omitthatin informal situations:
The thingyou need to rememberis(that) all of the files from before 2008 are stored in Shona’s office.
When we focus on an infinitive clause, we can omittoin informal situations:
The thingI didn’t want to dowas(to) queue all day just for a ticket, so I booked it online.
One thing, the one thing
We can emphasisethingwithone.The one thingis even stronger:
You’ll meet a lot people when you’re travelling butone thingyou must never doisgive your address to a complete stranger.
The one thingI should never have donewastrust Marlene.
Something
We can usesomethingin front position plus a form of the verbbeto bring attention to an item in the clause (underlined). It is less specific and less direct than usingthe thing, and means ‘one thing among others’:
SomethingI mustn’t forget ismy umbrella.(orWhat I mustn’t forget is my umbrella.)
Somethingyou need to knowisthat Kate is not very well at the moment.
See also:
Thingandstuff
Headers and tails
Itto create focus
When we useitat the beginning of a clause, the subject can go at the end of the clause and therefore be in the position of focus or emphasis (underlined):
It’s greatto know that you have passed all of your exams.
Itwas ridiculouspaying for two houses.
To create extra focus on time adjuncts(yesterday, in the morning, at 4 am), we can front them using phrases such asit is/was not until, it is/was only when. In the case ofnot until, the negative verb comes in theuntil-clause, not the main clause:
It wasn’t untilthe bill cameyesterdaythat we realised what an expensive hotel it was.(Compare:Until the bill came yesterday, we didn’t realise what an expensive hotel it was.)
It was only whenI wokeat 8 am, that I realised the alarm hadn’t gone off!
(Compare:When I woke at 8 am, I realised the alarm hadn’t gone off.)
Thereto create focus
We can usethereat the start of a clause as a type of indefinite subject. This means that we can put the actual subject at the end of the clause and so give it emphasis or focus (underlined below):
Therewasa strange smell coming from the room.(Compare:A strange smell was coming from the room.)
Therearemany people willing to travel to the concert.(Compare:Many people are willing to travel to the concert.)
Noun forms of verbs to create focus
In formal writing, especially academic writing, we can use a noun form of a verb as a subject. By doing this, extra focus is given to the end of the clause. Noun phrase subjects (topics) are in bold type below; the focus of each sentence is underlined:
The discovery of oilbroughtimmense wealth to the country.(Compare:Oil was discovered and this brought immense wealth to the country.)
His emergence as a leadercame aboutafter the strikes of the 1980s.(Compare:He emerged as a leader (and this came about) after the strikes of the 1980s.)