Focusing structures are specialized sentence patterns and syntactic arrangements used by writers to emphasize a particular piece of information, highlight contrast, and ensure the intended meaning is communicated effectively to the reader.
What Are Focusing Structures in English Grammar?
So far we've seen how something is focused using focusing words. There are, however, some structures also through which we can focus a particular thing. These structures are also useful to emphasize something. It's required that the reader learn the structures as well as their uses.
Let's proceed by taking some examples. Look at the following sentences :
- I am not tired.
- I am bored.
You want to focus the word bored, or, in a sense. want to emphasize that you are bored, not tired. To do this you might construct a sentence like the following:
I'm not tired. I'm bored.
and might express the focus by your tone. But this construction is not effective enough. If you want to emphasize the word 'bored', you can use some words like
I'm not tired, I'm just bored. I'm really bored.
But you can reconstruct the whole sentence like the following and i bring about your desired effect:
— I'm not tired; WHAT I AM is BORED.
How to Use WH-Structures for Sentence Emphasis
Now see the following examples:
- I don't want a pen.
- I want a pencil.
- - I don't want a pen; what I want is a PENCIL.
- Tom didn't tell me this. Bob told me this.
- - Tom didn't tell me this: who told me (this) is BOB.
- I didn't give it to Munir.
- I gave it to Tuhin.
- - I didn't give it to Munir, whom I gave it (to) is TUHIN.
The sentences could otherwise be written as follows
I'm BORED, not tired.
I want a PENCIL, not a pen.
TOM told me this, not Bob.
I gave it to TUHIN, not to Munir.
Obviously, that WH-structure is the most effective as far as focusing is concerned.
Test Yourself and Learn Better
Use focusing structures and rewrite the following sentences.
- I didn't say that; I said that it would not work.
- I want to find out who the criminal is.
- I know what to do; now I want to know HOW to do it.
- She doesn't love you: she loves Mohit.
- I know what he did, but I don't know why he did that.
- I am not embarassed: I am really impressed
- Do anything you like, but don't touch that button.
- I did nothing else: I touched the button.
- We don't need MBAs: we need MAs.
Answers to the Practice Exercise
1. I didn't say that: what I said was that it would not work
Or, I didn't say that; all (that) I said was that it would not work.
Or, I didn't say that, it would not work-that's what I said.
2. What I want to find out is who the criminal is.
Or, Who's the criminal?-that's what I want to find out.
Or, All I want to find out is who the criminal is.
3. I know what to do what I now want to know is how to do it.
Or, I know what to do; but how to do it that's what I want to know.
4. She doesn't love you: whom she loves is Mohit.
Or, Whom she loves is MOHIT, not you.
Or, She loves MOHIT, not you.
5. I know what he did; what I don't know is why he did that.
Or, What I don't know is WHY he did that, not WHAT he did.
6. I'm not embarrassed; what I AM is IMPRESSED.
Or, What I am is IMPRESSED, not embarassed.
Or, I am just IMPRESSED, not embarassed.
7. Do anything you like; ONLY don't touch that button.
Or, What you must not do is (to) TOUCH that button: do anything else.
Or, Only what you must not do is (to) touch the button: do anything else.
8. What I did was (to) TOUCH the button, and nothing else.
Or, I ONLY TOUCHED the button and did nothing else.
Or, ALL I did was TOUCH the button.
Or, ALL I did was that I TOUCHED the button; I did nothing else.
9. What we really need is MAs, not MBAs. Or. We ONLY need MAs, and not MBAs.
Other Alternative Focusing Structures
There are, however, other structures which we can use to focus a thing or an idea. These are shown below.
- ● It is ony when I requested him humbly that he took the money.
Or, He took the money only when I requested him humbly. - ● It is only when you ask him that he will help you.
Or, He will help you only when you ask him.
Key Takeaways
- Focusing structures help emphasize a particular word, concept, or element in a sentence.
- WH-structures (such as what I want is or whom she loves is) provide powerful focus compared to mere vocal tone.
- Sentences can also be restructured using contrastive phrases like not... but... or only when... clauses.
Quick Practice
Write your own sentences using a WH-focusing structure in the comments section below to practice what you have learned!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are focusing structures in grammar?
Focusing structures are specific syntactic arrangements, such as WH-cleft sentences or special clause openings, used to place special emphasis on a particular part of a sentence.
How do WH-structures create emphasis?
WH-structures split information into two parts—known information and new emphasized information—allowing the reader or listener to focus directly on the desired point.
Can alternative structures be used for focus?
Yes, structures using introductory phrases like "It is only when..." can also be utilized to highlight specific conditions or ideas within a sentence.
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