Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Adverbs › Adverbs for Focus
EMPHASIS IN SPEECH |
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In speech, a sentence part that receives intonational emphasis has a particular meaning. Each sentence below differs in meaning depending on the part that is stressed. |
WHOSE PHONE? |
My phone can make calls to family in this area. (not my tablet) |
WHAT FUNCTION? |
My phone can make calls to family in this area. (one function) |
DO WHAT? |
My phone can make calls to family in this area. (not texts) |
TO WHOM? |
My phone can make calls to family in this area. (not friends) |
WHERE? |
My phone can make calls to family in this area. (not long distance) |
EMPHASIS IN WRITING (OR SPEECH) |
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In writing and speech, we draw attention to a part of a sentence with a focusing adverb. Without the focusing word, the spoken version would require emphasis to make its meaning known. When we use a focusing adverb, it signals to the reader or listener—this information is important! |
BEFORE THE SUBJECT |
Only my phone can make calls to family in this area. (not my tablet) |
BEFORE THE MAIN VERB |
My phone can only make calls to family in this area. (one function) |
BEFORE THE OBJECT |
My phone can make only calls to family in this area. (not texts) |
BEFORE AN INDIRECT OBJECT |
My phone can make calls only to family in this area. (not friends) |
BEFORE A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE |
My phone can make calls to family only in this area. (not long distance) |
ADDITIVE | LIMITED | LIMITED |
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also |
alone |
not only |
as well |
but |
only |
too |
exactly |
precisely |
even |
exclusively |
purely |
|
just |
simply |
|
merely |
solely |
Also see And so / And too and Too / Either.
PARTIAL LIMITATION | PARTIAL LIMITATION | OTHER |
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chiefly |
in particular |
NEGATIVE |
especially |
predominantly |
neither / nor |
mainly |
primarily |
CHOICE |
mostly |
at least |
either |
notably |
for the most part mostly |
SURPRISE |
particularly |
by and large mostly |
even |
Also see "not only, but also".
(Huddleston 587, 592) (Swan 24.6)
WITHOUT |
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An adverb modifies another word such as a verb, adjective, another adverb or a prepositional phrase. Focusing adverbs such as also, just, even, only mainly, mostly, particularly, especially, either or, neither nor, etc. differ because they point to a part of a clause. Focusing adverbs can modify noun phrases, prepositional phrases, verb phrases, adjective phrases and adverbial phrases. Compare the sentences without and with focusing adverbs. |
ADDITION |
Mobile phones can browse the Internet. They can play music. |
Mobile phones can browse the Internet, and they can play music. (A conjunction can add a clause.) |
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LIMITATION |
My mobile phone cannot make long-distance call. It makes local calls. |
My mobile phone cannot make long-distance call, but it does make local calls. (Auxiliary moved for emphasis.) |
PARTIAL LIMITATION |
My mobile phone has been very useful. (Adverb modifies adjective.) |
My mobile phone can make calls and hold contact numbers. It is for making calls. |
SURPRISE OR EXCEPTION |
My mobile phone can navigate to an address, and it can show me where the traffic is . |
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CHOICE / NEGATIVE |
My mobile phone can browse the Internet, or It can send a text message. |
My mobile phone cannot browse the Internet, and It cannot send a text message. |
WITH |
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Focusing adverbs can "point to" any part of the sentence, but they most commonly point to (focus on) the verb phrase. They may occur next to (before) the phrase they refer to, or they may occur in a clause after. (See Sentence Position .) We can state the sentence without a focusing adverb, but its attention-getting effect will be lost! |
FOCUS ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
Mobile phones can browse the Internet. They can also play music. (also draws focus to the entire verb phrase) |
Mobile phones can browse the Internet, and they can also play music. and… also |
Mobile phones can browse the Internet, but they cannot also receive a call. but… not also |
FOCUS ON LIMITATION |
My mobile phone cannot make long-distance call. It can only / just make local calls. |
My mobile phone cannot make long-distance calls. It is primarily / solely for local call. |
FOCUS ON PARTIAL LIMITATION |
My mobile phone has especially / particularly been useful. (truly, especially) (but not: very) |
My mobile phone is mainly / mostly for making calls. (truly, especially, particularly, above all |
FOCUS ON A SURPRISING OCCURRENCE |
My mobile phone can navigate to an address. It can even show me where the traffic is. (surprisingly) |
My mobile phone cannot browse the Internet. It cannot even save phone numbers. (sadly) |
FOCUS ON CHOICE OR NEGATIVE |
My mobile phone can either browse the Internet, or it can send a text message. (choice of one) |
My mobile phone can neither browse the Internet nor can it send a text message. (nothing!) |
Related pages: And / In addition | Indeed / Even | Splitting Verbs
En-US— cell phone; En-Br— mobile [phone]
SUBJECT– NOUN PHRASE | VERB PHRASE | OBJECT– NOUN PHRASE |
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Some focusing adverbs occur initially, drawing focus to the subject. |
Most focusing verbs can occur mid-position (1) after the main verb, (2) after the auxiliary but before the main verb, (3) after a "be" main verb. |
Most focusing adverbs can appear after the verb drawing attention to the object or a prepositional phrase. (In place of also, too or as well can be used in final position. |
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Even I wouldn't wear flip-flops to the White House. (I am no exception.) |
I wouldn't even wear flip-flops to the supermarket. (no exceptions) |
I wouldn't wear even flip-flops. (not shoes and not flip-flops) |
Just we wore flip-flops to dinner. (Only we did, not other people.) |
We just ate appetizers not dinner. (only— ate, didn't dance) |
We ate just a little bit. (only — not much) |
*Also I am sending a kiss. Also¹, I am sending a kiss. (connective adverb) |
I am also sending a kiss. (while mailing these cookies) |
I am sending also a kiss [too / as well]. (with these cookies) |
*Really I am sorry. Really², I am sorry.. (sentence adverb) |
I really am sorry. (no doubt) / I am really sorry. (very sorry– adj.) |
— |
*Not used / ~borderline usage or requires a special context
MEANING | USAGE | SENTENCE EXAMPLE |
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REALLY |
The adverb just adds emphasis to a verb with a meaning of giving strong opinion— love, adore, hate, can't stand, tolerate, can't put up with. |
We just love Hawaii. We just hate standing in line at the post office. This car just takes off! We are just so happy with it. |
ONLY MERELY |
Just may also express limitation with a meaning of only. When speaking, the emphasis is on just. |
We just love Hawaii but not Oahu. We just mailed the stamped envelopes. The unstamped ones are still here. This car just needs a little gas. |
RECENTLY |
Just can also mean recently. When speaking, the emphasis is on the verb. |
We have just visited Hawaii. We just mailed the stamped envelopes. |
BARELY EXACTLY (no more) |
Just can also mean to succeed at something by a small margin. (This is different from nearly which means to fail by a small margin.) |
We just made it back before the rain poured down. It's just four o'clock. The post office is closed. (exactly) We can just afford the car. |
merely (adv) — only as specified, nothing more (the least amount)
only (adv) — no more than; just; merely
Related pages: Just / Recently | Indeed / Even
FOCUSING ADVERB | CONJUNCTION | CONNECTIVE ADVERB |
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Also is commonly used as a focusing adverb to emphasize the addition of information to what has already been mentioned. |
Also, as a conjunction, is used in place of and… also. (This use is considered informal by some native speakers.) |
Also, as a connective adverb or transition word, is used in place of Additionally or Moreover. (This use is considered informal by some native speakers.) |
Besides being a phone, it is also a music player. |
It's a phone, also a music player. and also |
It's a phone. Also, it's a music player. Additionally |
Along with a new touchscreen, it will also have a keyboard. |
It will have a touchscreen, also a keyboard. and also |
It will have a touchscreen. Also, it will feature a touch screen |
Also is not used to talk about surprising extremes. ( e.g. Everyone helped with the packing — even the dog! not —also the dog!) — (Swan 189.3)
Pop-Q "Also"
FOCUSING ADEVERB | SUBJECT | AUXILIARY | VERB¹ | OBJECT |
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Also / Only / Even |
Mike |
|
likes |
the new features. |
|
Mike |
will |
use |
the new features. |
Mike |
is |
enjoying |
the new features. |
|
|
Mike |
has been |
using |
the new features. |
¹ verb — plain form love; gerund-participle form loving; past-participle form: been; "verb group" is loving, has been loving; see Verb Forms.
SUBJECT | AUXILIARY | FOCUSING ADVERB | VERB¹ | COMPLEMENT [OBJ] |
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Mike |
|
also / mostly / only / even |
loves |
the new features. |
Mike |
can |
also / mostly / only / even |
use |
the new features. |
Mike |
is |
also / mostly / only / even |
enjoying |
the new features. |
Mike |
|
also / mostly / only / even |
is enjoying |
the new features. |
Mike |
has |
also / mostly / only / even |
been using |
the new features. |
Mike |
has been |
also / mostly / only / even |
using |
the new features |
Mike |
is |
also / mostly / only / even |
|
here today. |
SUBJECT | VERB | FOCUSING ADVERB | COMPLEMENT | FOCUSING ADVERB |
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Mike |
has been using |
mostly / only / even |
the new features. |
Modifies the object noun |
Mike |
likes |
|
the new features |
as well. Modifies the verb + object. |
Mike |
will use |
|
the new features |
too. Modifies the verb + object. |
Mike |
is |
|
here today
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– only / *also!
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complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning
*Used as an afterthought to the sentence; modifies the verb + complement.
TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR | LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
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Paired conjunctions: "The same grammatical form should follow each part of the paired conjunctions. " — Azar (Azar 16-3) |
Current grammar analyzes words such as also and only as focusing adverbs. They are distinguished from other adverbs in that they modify a wide range of constituent parts: noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, adjective phrase, adverb phrase, or a whole clause. Focusing adverbs can be restrictive or additive, and they can include negation (not only). (Huddleston 6.7.3) |
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"These adverbs 'point to' one part of a clause." (Swan 24.6) |
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In Quirk & Greenbaum (1985) words such as also and only were called focusing subjuncts with subdivisions: restrictives and additives. Also see (Biber 8.116) |
anxiety (N) — the feeling of being very worried about something
depression (N) — a medical condition that makes you very unhappy and anxious and often prevents you from living a normal life
self-esteem (N) — the feeling of being satisfied with your own abilities, and that you deserve to be liked or respected