Focus

[deepcosmos]

Hi,

I would like to have your guidandance for followings :

1. If I will put focus on [in America], which sentence is better? ;

1) In America I studied linguistics or 2) I studied linguistics in America

2. If I will put focus on [Shakespeare], which sentence is better? ;
1) Shakespeare wrote that play or 2) That play was written by Shakespeare

3. If I will put focus on [a book], which sentence is better? ;
1) A book is on the desk or 2) There is a book on the desk

4. If I will put focus on [the salt], which sentence is better? ;
1) Pass the salt to me, please or 2) Pass me the salt, please

In short, if I will put focus on certain word(s), where I should put the aiming
word(s), at the "beginning" place or "ending" place? I guess the "beginning"
place is better to induce readers' attention.

Best Rgds,

[Tdol]

1- 2 (1 sounds as if you studied something else in another country)
2- 1
3- 2 (Don't like the first choice)
4 No difference to me.

[deepcosmos]

Hello, Tdol !

Thanks for your reply.

1. Re your reply to para.1 commenting that 1 sounds as if I studied something else
in anothet country, do you have a general tendency that you will try to put the
focused word(s) at ending place in a sentence as much as possible ?

2. Re para.1 which will be better expression between above 1)+2) each for the
questions ; "What did you study in America ?" / "Where did you study linguistics ?"

3. Re para.2 is it o.k if I understand that passive form is to emphasize the object
of positive form ?


4. If I will put focus on "in the morning", which sentence is better ?
1) In the morning he jogs 2) He jogs in the morning

Will await to hear soon,

Best rgds,

[Tdol]

1 Not always- focus can shift.
2 Both of those would give me the second answer.
3 The passive shifts the focus onto the play rather than the author.
4 The second sounds more natural. The first is OK, but it sounds a bit too formal for such a mundane sentence without further context. If it were part of a longer text about his day, then it would sound OK.

[deepcosmos]

Hello, Tdol !

many thanks for your reply with notes.

Best rgds