How do you use "Fronting for Emphasis" in a sentence?

This we cannot allow. Gone are the days of simple living. Happy they were not. Such was his talent that everyone admired him.

Fronting for Emphasis

Q: What does "Fronting for Emphasis" mean?

Moving elements to sentence-initial position In formal or literary English, objects or complements can be fronted for emphasis: 'This I cannot accept.' 'Delicious the food was.' Common in journalism and creative writing.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Formal

Meaning: Moving elements to sentence-initial position

将成分移至句首以强调

Mover elementos a posición inicial para énfasis

強調のために要素を文頭に移動する

강조를 위해 요소를 문두로 이동하기

In formal or literary English, objects or complements can be fronted for emphasis: 'This I cannot accept.' 'Delicious the food was.' Common in journalism and creative writing.

在正式或文学英语中，宾语或补语可以前置以强调：'This I cannot accept.' 'Delicious the food was.' 在新闻和创意写作中常见。

En inglés formal o literario, los objetos o complementos se pueden anteponer para énfasis: 'This I cannot accept.' 'Delicious the food was.' Común en periodismo y escritura creativa.

フォーマルまたは文学的な英語では、目的語や補語を前置して強調できます：「This I cannot accept.」「Delicious the food was.」ジャーナリズムや創作文で一般的です。

격식적이거나 문학적인 영어에서 목적어나 보어를 강조하기 위해 문두로 이동시킬 수 있다: 'This I cannot accept.' 'Delicious the food was.' 저널리즘과 창작 글에서 흔히 사용된다.

Examples

This we cannot allow.
这我们不能允许。
Esto no lo podemos permitir.
これは許すわけにはいかない。
이것은 허용할 수 없다.
Gone are the days of simple living.
简单生活的日子一去不复返了。
Se fueron los días de la vida sencilla.
シンプルな暮らしの時代は終わった。
소박한 삶의 시대는 끝났다.
Happy they were not.
他们可不开心。
Felices no estaban.
幸せではなかった、彼らは。
행복하지 않았다, 그들은.
Such was his talent that everyone admired him.
他的才华如此出众，人人都钦佩他。
Tal era su talento que todos lo admiraban.
彼の才能は素晴らしく、皆が彼を称えた。
그의 재능이 대단하여 모두가 그를 경탄했다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: written, literary, formal

Tone: emphatic

✓ Do Say

This I must remember.
这个我必须记住。
Esto debo recordarlo.
これは覚えておかなければ。
This I must remember.
Strange though it may seem...
虽然看起来很奇怪……
Por extraño que parezca...
奇妙に見えるかもしれないが……
Strange though it may seem...
Far from the truth was his statement.
他的陈述与事实相去甚远。
Lejos de la verdad estaba su declaración.
彼の発言は真実からはほど遠かった。
Far from the truth was his statement.

✗ Don't Say

Happy I am about this. (sounds awkward in casual speech)
Happy I am about this.（在随意对话中听起来很奇怪）
Happy I am about this. (suena raro en habla casual)
Happy I am about this.（カジュアルな会話では不自然）
Happy I am about this. (일상 대화에서는 어색하게 들린다)
The book I read yesterday. (needs context for fronting)
The book I read yesterday.（前置需要语境）
The book I read yesterday. (necesita contexto para anteposición)
The book I read yesterday.（前置には文脈が必要）
The book I read yesterday. (도치를 위한 맥락이 필요하다)

Origin & History

Emphatic word order variation

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal