3. She really does like street markets
Focus on
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What do the following sentences have in common? What do the words in bold mean?
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Adding emphasis in English
There are a number of ways to add emphasis to your sentences in English. In each of the sentences above we are using a different form to emphasize our statements.
1. Verbs to emphasize: Highlight, emphasize, underline, bring attention, draw one's attention. See example number 1 above.
2. Dummy auxiliary do: It is used to emphasize sentences in present (do/don't/does/doesn't) or past (did/didn't). It is placed in front of the base form of the verb and it doesn't have any meaning. It just emphasizes the main verb of the sentence. See example number 2.
3. Adverbs used to emphasize: really, simply, literally, for sure. See example number 3.
4. Inversion after certain adverbs: There is a group of adverbs which are placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis and they are followed by interrogative order. See example number 4 above.
Some of these adverbs are: never, hardly, seldom, rarely, scarcely, in no circumstances, under no circumstances, not only, so, neither, nor, little...
5. Cleft sentences - It: Sentences introduced by 'It + verb to be' are often used to emphasize a specific subject or object. The introductory clause is then followed by a relative pronoun. See example number 5 above.
6. Cleft sentences - What: Sentences beginning with 'What' are also used to emphasize a specific subject or object. The clause introduced by 'What' is employed as the subject of the sentence which is followed by the verb 'to be'. See example number 6 above.
Watch the video below for a more in-depth explanation of cleft sentences |
Vídeo alojado en Youtube
Let's practise how to emphasize sentences in English.
Rewrite the sentences putting the words in the correct order. Begin with the underlined word.
- friends old my all was missed I What
- somewhere own my of home a is want I All
- complaining constant her is angry me makes What
- passport my lost I that was happened What
- price the was most me surprised that thing The
- clear not is emigrated they why reason The
- apologise to had I was happened that All
- idea the had first who dad my was It
- What I missed was all my old friends.
- All I want is a home of my own somewhere.
- What makes me angry is her constant complaining.
- What happened was that I lost my passport.
- The thing that surprised me most was the price.
- The reason why they emigrated is not clear.
- All that happened was I had to apologise.
- It was my dad who first had the idea.
Rewrite the following sentences using the word or words given in brackets to add emphasis.
- London markets sell everything ranging from food to clothes and antiques. (Do)
- She got some bargains at Brooklyn Flea Market. (Did)
- She got some bargains at Brooklyn Flea Market. (It was)
- She got some bargains at Brooklyn Flea Market. (What)
- He has seldom bought designer clothes. (Seldom)
- She adores cheap leather clothes. (What)
- I have never bought second-hand furniture. (Never)
- You can go not only to Camden Town but also to Portobello Road. (Not only...but also)
- London markets do sell everything ranging from food to clothes and antiques.
- She did get some bargains at Brooklyn Flea Market.
- It was some bargains that she got at Brooklyn Flea Market.
- What she got at Brooklyn Flea Market was some bargains.
- Seldom has he bought designer clothes.
- What she adores is cheap leather clothes.
- Never have I bought second-hand furniture.
- Not only can you go to Camden Town but also to Portobello Road.