Grammar - Emphasis Structures in English
Emphasis Structures in English – Complete Explanation 1. What Is Emphasis? Emphasis means giving special importance or attention to a particular word, phrase, or idea. Compare: I wanted the blue car. I really wanted the blue car. It was the blue car that I wanted. All three sentences communicate a similar basic idea, but the second and third give extra emphasis . English has several structures for emphasizing information. 2. Main Emphasis Structures The most important structures are: Do/does/did for emphasis Cleft sentences It-clefts Wh-clefts Inversion Fronting What/How exclamations Repetition Intensifiers Reflexive pronouns for emphasis Auxiliary emphasis Emphatic negative structures Part I: Emphatic Do 3. Do/Does/Did for Emphasis We can use do, does, or did before the main verb to emphasize an affirmative statement. Present Simple Subject + do/does + V1 Examples: I do understand you. She does work hard. He does know the answer. Past Simple Subject + did + V1 Examples: I ...