Putting an emphasis

Question

What are the ways of putting an emphasis on sth in sentence (except inversion)?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Are you asking about a sentence that is spoken or that is written?

Please give us a sentence as an example, and tell us what you want to emphasize in it.

That will save us time.

Best wishes, Clive

Proto · Answer

No I mean putting an emphasis in general.

1. "Little did she know how much work was left"
Here inversion is used to show that she wasn't aware of how much more work there was to be done.

2. "We'll cut the cake when all the guest have arrived"
Here present perfect is used to make it clear that an action will be completed before the action in the main clause.

3. "I'll take the umbrela in case it should rain"
Here the word should is used to make the possibility of an event seem unlikely.

What are other ways of stressing sth in sentences?

Clive · Answer

Hi again,

I guess it depends on what you mean by 'put an emphasis'.

With regard to your examples, I don't see making any real emphasis in making a sequence of actions clear, or showing that something is hypothetical.

My first thought would be to add emphasis in this simple and direct way.

eg This contract is very, very important to our company.

eg I want to emphasize/stress the importance of this contract to our company.

As I also suggested earlier, in spoken English emphasis is commonly added by aspects such as tone and volume of voice, facial expression, gestures, etc.

Ihope you won't be offended if I point out that so far you have said neither 'please' nor 'thank you'. I'm sure it's simply because you are concentrating on your query. However, we are all volunteers here, doing our best to offer help to people.

Best wishes again, Clive

Proto · Answer

Hi,

I was told at school that when you add 'should' you stress that the situation is unlikely to happen and that making a sequence of actions clear is an emphasis as well. But, you are the boss here

Ok so another exaple. J believe that the word 'do' is a kind of emphasis. Am I right?

But there is one thing in it that i'm not sure about. By adding 'do' you stress how much you like somebody or the fact you like somebody when he doen't believe you?

'I like you" -> I like very much' = 'I do like you' ?
OR
A: I like you
B: Yea right
A: No, seriously. I like you. = I do like you?

And of course, Thank you Clive

Have a nice day,
Proto

Cool Breeze · Answer

ProtoI was told at school that when you add 'should' you stress that the situation is unlikely to happen and that making a sequence of actions clear is an emphasis as well. But, you are the boss here

I'm not a boss but I agree with Clive.

If you don't mind, I'll offer a few more ways to emphasize things:

1. A word or phrase can be placed at the beginning for emphasis in English:
Yesterday he didn't have lunch at all.
Yesterday is more emphatic than it would be at the end: He didn't have lunch at all yesterday.

2. A sentence may be begun with a dummy it:
It was Bob who/that broke the window.
Bob is more emphatic in the above sentence than it is here: Bob broke the window.

With regard to your question about emphatic do, it usually has more or less the same meaning as really: I do like it. = I really like it.

CB

Proto · Answer

Cool BreezeIf you don't mind, I'll offer a few more ways to emphasize things:

Of course I don't mind

Feel free to offer some more

I was familliar with the second 'kind' of emphasis however the first one is quite novelty to me

Thank you very much

Proto

Putting an emphasis

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