Other types of emphasis

1. We can ask emphatic questions with ever expressing admiration, anger, concern, etc.:

e.g. Wherever did you find it?

e.g. Whoever did you talk to?

e.g. Whatever are you doing here?

2. In the Present / Past Simple or Imperative we can use the construction do/ does/ did + bare infinitive to give emphasis:

e.g. I do care for you.

e.g. He did tell me he was leaving.

e.g. Do sit down, please!

Fronting

In spoken English we sometimes want to make a strong emphasis with something in a previous statement. We can do this with objects, complements, etc. by ‘fronting’ them (moving them to the front of the clause), which makes them more emphatic (See also Inversion).

1. Fronting objects and complements:

e.g. She may be friendly but she isn’t reliable. → Friendly she may be, but reliable she isn’t!

e.g. Hilary spent most of her time in the drawing-room or the garden. The attic she rarely visited.

2. Fronting adjective phrases, also and such:

e.g. The first band was dire. Much more exciting was red Heat, the second group to play.

e.g. The actors were a mixed bunch. Least inspiring of the lot was Pacino.

e.g. Members of the royal family attended the funeral. Also at the service were several ambassadors.

e.g. They led the life of abject poverty. Such is the fate of most illegitimate children in this province.

3. Fronting adverbials, infinitives, as and though:

e.g. At the back of the house was an untidy garden, much of which was taken up by a large and unkempt lawn.

e.g. Attached to the roof was an unsightly FM aerial.

e.g. To meet him is my most fervent wish.

e.g. He said he would arrive on time. And arrive on time he did.

e.g. Battered though he was, he never lost his will to succeed.

e.g. Try as she might, she simply couldn’t open the jam jar.

Exercises

1. Look at each question and write a sentence with it + be + a clause.

e.g. Who invented radio? – Marconi. → It was Marconi who invented radio.

1. When did Columbus sail to America? – In 1492. 2. What does Tiger Woods play? – Golf. 3. Where did the Olympic Games first take place? – In Greece. 4. Which is nearest the sun, Venus or mercury? – Mercury. 5. Who played the ship’s captain in ‘Iceberg’? – Art Golding. 6. Where did you meet? – In London. 7. Who did you go shopping with? – Mrs. Regan. 8. Where did you leave your purse? – At the grocer’s. 9. Should we telephone the police or the shop? – The shop. 10. When did you realize you’d left the keys in the car? – Just now. 11. Who should telephone the police? – You, of course. 12. Did Sophie prepare the meal? – No.

2. Rewrite the sentences using emphatic constructions, starting with the words given.

1. John set off the fire alarm.  It was … 2. Come in!  Do … 3. Why did they close the shop?  Why ever … ? 4. She needs a pay rise.  What … 5. She promised to call him.  She did … 6. When did you get married?  When was … 7. What have you done?  Whatever … ? 8. I told you to be quiet.  I did … 9. Annie opened the windows.  It was … .