🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What is Fronting and Topicalisation?

Fronting (also called topicalisation) is when you move a word or phrase to the beginning of a sentence, away from its normal position. This emphasizes that information and makes it the focus or 'topic' of the sentence. It's a powerful tool for emphasis and clarity in writing and speech.

Short answer

Fronting is moving a phrase from its normal position to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis and focus. For example: 'Chocolate, I love' (fronted object) vs. the normal 'I love chocolate.' It marks the fronted item as the main topic.

Fronting: Normal vs. Fronted Word Order

1
Normal Order
Subject + Verb + Object: 'I like coffee.'
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2
Fronted Order
Object/Phrase + Subject + Verb: 'Coffee, I like.'
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3
Effect
Focus shifts to the fronted element — creates emphasis and stress.
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4
Use
Emphasis, contrast, creating suspense, storytelling, rhetorical impact.

Step-by-step worked examples

Normal: 'I find this book boring.' Fronted version?

Identify the object: 'this book'
Move to front: 'This book, I find...'
Full fronted: 'This book, I find boring.' (or 'Boring, I find this book.')

Normal: 'She had never seen such beauty.' Fronted version?

Identify what to emphasize: 'such beauty' or 'never'
Fronted: 'Such beauty, she had never seen.' or 'Never had she seen such beauty.' (inverted)

Normal: 'We can solve this problem if we work together.' Fronted version?

Move the condition to front: 'If we work together, we can solve this problem.'
Or emphasize the object: 'This problem, we can solve if we work together.'

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Which sentence uses fronting?

Correct answer: B. 'Coffee, I love' moves the object to the front for emphasis — that's fronting.

Q2.Normal order: 'I have never seen such talent.' Fronted:

Correct answer: C. 'Never have I seen such talent' fronts 'never' AND inverts the subject/verb order — correct fronting.

Q3.Why might a writer front a phrase?

Correct answer: B. Fronting emphasizes the moved element and marks it as the main focus or topic.

Q4.Can you front an adverbial?

Correct answer: B. Yes, adverbials are commonly fronted — 'Quickly, he ran.' or 'In the morning, I exercise.'

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Common mistakes

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Fronting changes the grammatical subject. — Correct: Fronting moves a phrase for emphasis, but the subject and main verb stay the same (except in rare inverted constructions).

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Only adjectives can be fronted. — Correct: Objects, adverbials, prepositional phrases, and even clauses can be fronted — not just adjectives.

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Fronting is always incorrect grammar. — Correct: Fronting is a grammatically correct stylistic device when done properly — it changes focus, not correctness.

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Fronting is too advanced for everyday speech. — Correct: People use fronting naturally for emphasis — 'This guy, I trust.' is normal, everyday English.

FAQ

What is topicalisation vs. fronting?

They're often used interchangeably — fronting is the act of moving to the front; topicalisation is marking something as the 'topic' or focus.

When do you use fronting in writing?

For emphasis, creating rhythm, dramatic effect, or to improve flow — especially in literature and persuasive writing.

Is fronting common in English?

Yes — people use it constantly in speech ('This, I can't forgive') and in writing for style and impact.

Can fronting make a sentence grammatically wrong?

Not if done correctly — fronting is a stylistic choice. However, awkward fronting can sound unnatural.