Emphasis Structures
What Is It?
Emphasis Structures refers to sentence patterns that move focus onto selected information.
C1-C2 reference topic in Sentence Structure.
Why Use It?
- Highlight contrast or correction.
- Use clefts, fronting, and inversion deliberately.
- Shape reader attention.
Formation and Patterns
| Use | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| It-cleft | It is/was + focus + that/who + clause | It was the examples that helped. |
| What-cleft | What + clause + be + focus | What I need is practice. |
| Negative inversion | Never/Rarely + aux + S + V | Rarely have I seen such progress. |
Common Mistakes
- Using clefts when simple stress would do.
- Forgetting auxiliary inversion after negative fronting.
- Creating unclear focus because too much information is highlighted.
Exceptions & Nuances
- Emphasis structures are powerful but can sound theatrical if overused.