Focussing on certain elements of a sentence over others (giving prominence to a part) is usually done by arranging the elements in an unusual way.
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 104 in the category of PRONOUNS/indefinite is defined: ‘anything’ with post-modifiers to form complex noun phrases as subjects with a singular verb, to give focus. A search in iWeb corpus for: . Anything _RR * * 1 . ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST 243 2 . ANYTHING ELSE IS […]
ANYTHING + post-modifier Read More »
This English Grammar Profile C1 point 53 in NOUNS/phrases defined complex noun phrases with ‘wh-‘ cleft clauses, followed by ‘be’, to give focus is also found in the category of FOCUS. A search in iWeb: . What _P _V _VB 1 . WHAT I MEAN IS 3278 2 . WHAT I DID WAS 1894 3
What + CLAUSE + BE Read More »
The English Grammar Profile C1 point 10 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘What’ + noun or pronoun + verb phrase as subject + ‘be’, for focus. Note that Pearson lists this point: GSE 59 B2 clauses with ‘What …’ to emphasise the topic or main point. For example: What we need now is a good night’s sleep. What I said was that I don’t need your help.
‘What you see is what you get.’ (CLEFT CLAUSE) Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile, ‘Whatever’ is listed as a pronoun at B1 meaning ‘anything’ or ‘everything’, one example they give is: Whatever I say I always seem to get it wrong. This EVP example could be rewritten as: I always seem to get whatever I say wrong. As a pronoun or a determiner at B2 meaning ‘no difference’: Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy a wonderful summer. It could be rewritten as I hope you enjoy a wonderful summer
whatever | wherever | whenever | however Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 19 in CONJUNCTIONS/coordinating is defined as: inverted auxiliary ‘do’ + the subject after ‘not only’, to give focus. For example: It‘s kind of like the dirty, little secret of poverty, which is that, not only do poor people take in very little income, but also, the income that they take in, they don’t spend it very wisely, and unfortunately, most of that spending is done by men. *This is an overlapping point at multiple levels.
not only do * but also Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, point 107 in CLAUSES/subordinated is defined as: non-finite subordinate clause with an ‘-ed’ form, before a main clause, to give focus This is an overlapping grammar point for C1 point 7 FOCUS. A search in iWeb for . _VVN 1 . GONE ARE THE DAYS 5606 2 . MADE IN
non-finite subordinate clause Read More »
It -clefts consist of the pronoun it, a form of the verb to be, the focused element, and a relative-like dependant clause introduced by that, who/which or zero. grin.com In the English Vocabulary Profile (EVP), the pronoun ‘it’ is C2 when it emphasizes one part of a sentence. The example given in the EVP matches two C2 grammar points in the
C2 point 14 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘How’, ‘Why’, or ‘Where’ cleft clauses as subject, for focus. *Note, HOW + CLAUSE is also C2 as an exclamation. A search on iWeb for: . How|Why|Where _P _V * 1 . WHERE I LIVE , 688 2 . WHY YOU ASK ? 544
how | why | where + CLEFT CLAUSE Read More »
Fixed expressions are groups of words that are used together to convey a specific meaning.
“All of a sudden” and “out of nowhere” are fixed expressions that mean something happened very quickly and unexpectedly.
Sometimes, they are used together for added focus. For example:
But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he just collapsed.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a huge storm hit the city.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere Read More »
Here are two overlapping C2 grammar points in the English Grammar Profile. Point 129 in CLAUSES/coordinated is defined as: combine a negative clause with an inverted clause with ‘nor’, to give focus. Point 25 in CONJUNCTIONS/coordinating is defined as: ‘Neither’ or ‘Nor’ + inverted auxiliary or ‘be’ + subject to add to a previous related
NEGATIVE CLAUSE + nor | neither Read More »
An exclamative sentence can start with the intensifier ‘How‘ which is ‘fronted’ without inversion. For example: How I wish I could do that. Listen C2 point 128 CLAUSES phrases/exclamations is defined as: HOW + CLAUSE *Note, How + cleft clause is also C2. This is another hard to research structure in iWeb because of the variable length of clauses. 1 .
How + clause (exclamation) Read More »
C2 FOCUS | FORMAL | happened immediately before something else
HARDLY HAD + inversion Read More »
There are two similar points at C2 for listing adjectives in the English Grammar Profile. Point 76 in the category of ADJECTIVES/combining is defined as: list of adjectives in ellipted clauses before and after a noun, to give focus. The EGP examples contain: Imaginative, good-humoured, friendly, he was … The latter fat, ugly and sick blows
listing adjectives + ellipted clauses Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 7 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: non-finite subordinate clause with an ‘-ed’ form, before a main clause, for focus, often in formal, academic or business contexts. Also see Pearson’s 76 GSE C1: add information using appended clauses with ‘being’ and/or passive participles. Given enough time, she‘ll do
NON-FINITE past participle CLAUSES Read More »
Fixed expressions are phrases that have a specific meaning and are often used in spoken language. For example, “at the end of the day” or “all in all”.
When we put a fixed expression in the front position of a sentence, we create a focus on it. This means we want to emphasize or highlight the meaning of the expression.
At the end of the day (FOCUS EXPRESSIONS) Read More »
C2 FOCUS = The + premodifier + thing | fact | point | problem | reason’ + BE (that)
We believe it is important to ask questions about the presentation of grammar points. The English Grammar Profile doesn’t clearly state in the definition that a clause must follow this structure to make it C2. It seems a ‘(that)’ clause is optional, so let’s explore!
the + PREMODIFIER + NOUN + is Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 79 in the category of PRONOUNS is defined as: indefinite pronouns with a relative clause to form complex noun phrases, to give focus *Note that there does not seem to be any other grammar point in the EGP or EVP that relates to indefinite pronoun + relative pronoun which
indefinite pronoun + relative clause (focus) Read More »
The landscape can get muddy when it has been raining.
present perfect continuous Read More »
‘never + inversion‘ is B2 with or without past perfect. The following examples use present perfect simple + inversion: Never before has man possessed so much power. listen Never before have so many people risen so far so fast, on so many different dimensions. listen Here’s an example with past perfect inversion without ‘before’: Never had I felt such an incomprehensible emptiness within myself. listen In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 68 in PAST is defined as: past perfect
NEVER BEFORE + perfect inversion Read More »
This is another post about two overlapping English Grammar Profile points at the same proficiency level that could be merged into one. Point 11 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘Not a’ + noun with a passive verb or inverted auxiliary and subject for focus. Point 29 in the category of NEGATION: ‘not
