Page 91 - Basic English Usage

110
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110 emphasis
We can emphasize an idea (make it seem more important) in several
ways.

We can pronounce some words louder and with a higher intonation.
In writing, we can show this by using CAPITAL LETTERS or by
underlining. in printing, italics or bold type are used.

Mary, (it IN LOVE! Please dong tell amubeiy,
This is the /ast opportunity.
He lived in France, not Spain.
Changes in emphasis can change the meaning. Compare:
Jane phoned me yesterday. (Not somebody else.)
Jane phoned me yesterday.(She didn’t come to see me.)
Jane phoned me yesterday. (She didn’t phone you.)
Jane phoned me yesterday. (Not today.)
We often emphasize auxiliary verbs. This makes the sentence ‘stronger’,
or it expresses a contrast. When we stress auxiliary verbs, they change
their pronunciation (see 358).
lt was a nice party!
You have grown!
/ am telling the truth — you must believe me!
In sentences without auxiliary verbs, we can add do for emphasis.
Do sit down.
You’re wrong — she does like you.
When auxiliary verbs are stressed, the word order can change (see
14.10). Compare:
You have certainly grown.
You certainly have grown!(emphatic)

We can use special words to show emphasis; for example so, such,
really.
Thank you so much. It was such a lovely party. | really enjoyed
myself.

We can also use special structures, including repetition, to make some
parts of the sentence more important.
That film — what did you think of it?
Asleep, then, were you?
it was John who paid for the drinks.
What | need is a drink.
She looks much, much older.
For details of some of these structures, see 111.