Emphasis

Emphasis is showing or stating that something is particularly important or worth giving attention to. Some common ways of adding emphasis are:

FRONTING

Fronting involves placing information at or near the beginning of a sentence. 1) Placing the complement or direct object of a verb before the subject:

I met Irma and Marie ten years ago. Addi I didn't meet till last month.

2) Placing the subordinate clause before the main clause:

Because he was feeling depressed, Daniel stayed in bed all day.

3) Placing preposition and adverb phrases that are not part of another phrase before the subject of the sentence:

Despite its high cost of living, Paris attracts a lot of foreign visitors.

4) The verb can come before the subject of the sentence if it comes after a linking word for sequence (e.g. first, then, next, later):

First came the wind and then came the rain.

CLEFT SENTENCES

1) What + subject + auxiliary verb + is/was + infinitive with/without to:

They advertised on television. ► What they did was (to) advertise on television.

2) What + subject + main verb + is/was + to infinitive:

I really want to find a job in Bogota. ► What I really want is to find a job in Bogota.

3) It + is/was + [that]:

I like visiting other countries, but I don't enjoy flying. ► I like visiting other countries, but it's flying (that) I don't enjoy.

4) All / The last thing + subject + verb + is/was:

My house needs a swimming pool to make it perfect. ► All my house needs is a swimming pool to make it perfect.

Maria definitely doesn't want to have to leave the town where she grew up. ► The last thing Maria wants is to leave the town where she grew up.

USING ADVERBS

A large number of adverbs can be used to add emphasis. Note how the adverbs highlighted in blue in the sentences below add emphasis:

I personally always fly on scheduled airlines.

When my grandson first arrived in Los Angeles, he couldn't speak the language. He couldn't even say 'good morning' and 'thank you'.

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

We can also use reflexive pronouns (myself, himself, itself, themselves, etc.) to emphasise nouns or pronouns:

I phoned my bank and the phone was answered by the managerhimself. ( = I was expecting someone less senior to answer the phone)

IMPORTANT: We often use reflexive pronouns to emphasise that someone did something alone and without help: He's sailing round the world in a boat he built himself. We emphasise the surprising ability to also build boats - compare this with: He's sailing round the world in a boat he built.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Phrasal Verbs to use in writing

Break down:           Get upset
Bring up:               Start talking about a subject
Call off:                 Cancel
Care for:                Accept - like
Catch up:              Get tot the same point
Come across:         Meet/fing unexpectedly
Cut down:             Interrupt
Figure out:            Understand
Find out:               Discover
Go over:                Review
Look into:              Investigate
Point out:              Make a point of
Put off:                 Postpone
Run into:               Meet unexpectedly
Stick to:                Limit yourself to one thing
Think over:            Consider

Wish -Hope Patterns

Explanation - click here

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Wish - If only explanation - click here

Exercise

Other types of Inversion

Had it not rained

Contracted negative forms are not possible when we use an inverted word order to talk about an unreal or impossible situation in the past.

Had she not helped me I would have been in bad trouble. (NOT Hadn’t she helped me I would have been in bad trouble.)

This is actually the inverted form of the sentence ‘If she had not helped me I would have been in bad trouble’.

Had it not rained yesterday, we would have finished painting the walls.

Of course, contracted negative forms are possible when we use normal word order.

If it had not rained yesterday, we would have finished painting the walls. OR If it hadn’t rained yesterday, we would have finished painting the walls.

If you hadn’t been so stupid as to reject that job offer, you could have attained financial independence now.

The third conditional sentences are used to talk about things that might have happened, but didn’t. Note that here we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would/could have + past participle in the main clause.

If it hadn’t rained yesterday, we would have hosted the party in the garden.

Should you not wish to

The inversion structure is also possible withshould.

The structure with should is used to talk about present and future conditions. Here again negative forms are not contracted.

Should you not wish to join them, you must let them know before 4 o’clock. (NOT Shouldn’t you…)

Should you decide the sell the house, I will be happy to buy it from you.

Note that here should does not show obligation. It is merely used as an alternative to the present simple tense.

If you decide to sell the house, I will be happy to buy it from you.

Were we to have

Inversion is also possible with were. This structure is used to talk about the imaginary or improbable future situations.

Were we to have kids, we would need a bigger house. (= If we were to have kids, we would need a bigger house.)

Conditionals

Mixed Conditional Patterns

PAST

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.
  But I didn't win the lottery in the past and I am not rich now.
• If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
  But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job opportunities.
• If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work here.
  But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a visa now to work here.

PAST

FUTURE

Examples:

• If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us tomorrow.
  But she didn't sign up for the ski trip last week and she isn't going to join us tomorrow.
• If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to Shanghai.
  But Mark didn't get the job and Mark is not going to move to Shanghai.
• If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he would go to Mexico with us next month.
  But Darren wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas and he won't go to Mexico with us next month.

PRESENT

PAST

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.
  But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari yesterday.
• If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
  But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't translate the letter.
• If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
  But I have to work a lot and that is why I didn't go to the party last night.

PRESENT

FUTURE

Examples:

• If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on the cruise to Alaska next week.
  But I do have a lot of vacation time and I will go on the trip next week.
• If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to New York to work on the new advertising campaign.
  But Cindy is not creative and the company won't send her to New York to work on the new campaign.
• If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math tonight.
  But Dan is nice and he is going to tutor you tonight.

FUTURE

PAST

Examples:

• If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have accepted that new assignment at work.
  But I am going to go on a business trip next week, and that is why I didn't accept that new assignment at work.
• If my parents weren't coming this weekend, I would have planned a nice trip just for the two of us to Napa Valley.
  But my parents are going to come this weekend, and that is why I didn't plan a trip for the two of us to Napa Valley.
• If Donna weren't making us a big dinner tonight, I would have suggested that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
  But she is going to make us a big dinner tonight, and that is why I didn't suggest that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.

FUTURE

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.
  But I am not going to go to that concert tonight and that is why I am not excited.
• If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very nervous.
  But Sandy is not going to give a speech tomorrow and that is why she in not nervous.
• If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very disappointed.
  But Seb will come with us to the desert and that is why everyone is so happy.

Exercise

Extra exercise 1 

Extra exercise 2 

Extra exercise 3 

Word Formation

List of words - click here

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Writing Task 7

Task Type: Essay

Question

Read the two texts below.

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible and include your own ideas in your answers.

The Financial Costs of Stress

Research carried out by the Health and Safety Council estimates that stress and mental illness continues to be neglected by many businesses, both small and large. And the economic impact of this is huge, costing employers around £26bn a year. Stress at work can lead to a lack of concentration, fatigue and low motivation, all of which will cost the company in terms of low productivity, customer satisfaction and the very reputation of the company itself. Employers are being urged to become more "emotionally intelligent" and to improve the way they deal with stress and mental illness.

Speak up about Stress

Many people find it difficult to talk about their feelings, particularly if we're feeling weak or vulnerable. However, when suffering from stress it’s vital you seek help. It's important to feel you can talk honestly with a close friend, a loved one, a work colleague or doctor about what’s going on. Stress is easily diagnosed and there is plenty you can do to successfully treat and manage stress. One of the most effective of these is to share your feelings with those you trust. Remember that accepting help and support is not a sign of weakness. Close relationships are vital to helping you get through this tough time.

Write the essay. (around 240 - 280 words)