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Joy English · Level C2 · Word orderjoy-english.com

Fronting for emphasis and concession

Name:Date:

Move words to the front for emphasis, and express concession with forms such as Strange as it may seem.

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that completes each sentence correctly.

  1. ___ as it may seem, the quietest room in the building was the busiest.
    • a) Strangely
    • b) Strangeness
    • c) Strange
    • d) Strangest
  2. Try ___ he might, he could not open the lid.
    • a) how
    • b) as
    • c) so
    • d) what
  3. Down the lane ___ the old cart, loaded with apples.
    • a) did roll
    • b) has rolled
    • c) was rolled
    • d) rolled
  4. Much ___ I admire her courage, I cannot support the plan.
    • a) that
    • b) how
    • c) as
    • d) which
  5. Gone ___ the days when a single teacher could cover the entire curriculum.
    • a) is
    • b) are
    • c) being
    • d) been
  6. Key to the project's success ___ the willingness of the team to adapt.
    • a) were
    • b) are
    • c) being
    • d) was
  7. Hard ___ it was to admit, Kofi had misjudged the situation.
    • a) although
    • b) though
    • c) despite
    • d) whereas
  8. Not a single word of apology ___ she offer.
    • a) did
    • b) has
    • c) was
    • d) were

Complete the sentence

Type the missing word. Where a verb is given in brackets, give the form that fits.

  1. Try ___ she might, Mina could not remember the password.
  2. I don't often praise people, but Aiko really ___ deserve it.
  3. Up the steps ___ (run) the children, laughing and shouting.
  4. Here ___ (come) the bus at last!
  5. Not for one moment ___ she doubt that the team would succeed.
  6. Standing at the centre of the debate ___ (be) the question of funding.
  7. Important ___ the cost is, the quality of the materials matters even more.
  8. Tomás is not rich, nor ___ he want to be.

Answer key

Choose the correct form

  1. c) StrangeIn concessive fronting we use the adjective: Strange as it may seem.
  2. b) asTry as he might is the fixed concessive structure.
  3. d) rolledAfter a fronted direction phrase, a simple motion verb is inverted with its subject and takes no do.
  4. c) asMuch as I admire means "although I admire her greatly".
  5. b) areDays is plural, so the fronted phrase is Gone are the days.
  6. d) wasThe subject is willingness, which is singular, so was.
  7. b) thoughFronted adjectives take as or though; although is not possible in this pattern.
  8. a) didA fronted negative object triggers inversion, and the main verb needs did: did she offer.

Complete the sentence

  1. asTry as she might is a fixed concessive pattern meaning "however hard she tried".
  2. does / didThe emphatic auxiliary does (or did, for a past occasion) stresses that the statement is true.
  3. ranAfter a fronted place phrase, the verb comes before its subject; no do is used.
  4. comesHere + verb + noun subject: Here comes the bus.
  5. did / wouldNot for one moment is a negative adverbial, so the auxiliary precedes the subject.
  6. is / wasA fronted participial phrase is followed by be and the subject, which is the question.
  7. as / thoughConcessive fronting uses as or though after the adjective.
  8. doesAfter nor the auxiliary comes before the subject: nor does he want.

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