C2Word order25 min
Fronting for emphasis and concession
Move words to the front for emphasis, and express concession with forms such as Strange as it may seem.
English normally puts the subject first, but skilled writers front an element, placing it at the start of the sentence, to create emphasis, contrast or a smooth link with the previous sentence. Some fronted structures need inversion, while others do not.
| Structure | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fronted place or direction + motion verb | adverbial + verb + subject | Down the lane rolled the old cart. |
| Fronted complement | complement + be + subject | Key to the plan is the support of the staff. |
| Fixed fronted phrases | gone / here / there + verb | Gone are the days of easy credit. |
| Concession with adjective, adverb or verb | adjective + as / though + subject + verb | Strange as it may seem, the quietest room was the busiest. |
| Concession with much / try | much as; try as + subject + might | Try as he might, he could not open the lid. |
| Emphatic auxiliary | subject + do / does / did + base verb | She does deserve the prize. |
| Fronted object for contrast | object + subject + verb | That I cannot accept. |
In concessive fronting, the adjective, adverb or verb comes first and is followed by as or though, never by although: Hard though it was, Kofi admitted the mistake. With much, we say Much as I admire her courage, I cannot support the plan. Inversion with be also appears after fronted complements: Also important is the cost of training.
- Up the steps ran the children, laughing loudly.
- Here comes the bus at last!
- Brave as the rescuers were, they could not enter the tunnel.
- Not a single word of apology did she offer.
- I rarely praise anyone, but Aiko really does deserve it.
Exercise 1 of 2
Choose the correct form
Choose the option that completes each sentence correctly.
Exercise 2 of 2
Complete the sentence
Type the missing word. Where a verb is given in brackets, give the form that fits.
Try she might, Mina could not remember the password.
I don't often praise people, but Aiko really deserve it.
Up the steps (run) the children, laughing and shouting.
Here (come) the bus at last!
Not for one moment she doubt that the team would succeed.
Standing at the centre of the debate (be) the question of funding.
Important the cost is, the quality of the materials matters even more.
Tomás is not rich, nor he want to be.
Source
Original lesson by Joy English.
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