Guide to English grammar

49 Front position

The subject often comes at the beginning of a statement, but not always. We sometimes put another phrase in front position before the subject. We do this to emphasize a phrase or to contrast it with phrases in other sentences. The phrase in front position is more prominent than in its normal position.

1 An adverbial in front position

1 This paragraph is about a man who is starting a forbidden love affair.
For a week after this, life was like a restless dream. On the next day she did not appear in the canteen until he was leaving it, the whistle having already blown. Presumably she had been changed on to a later shift. They passed each other
without a glance. On the day after that she was in the canteen at the usual time, but with three other girls and immediately under a telescreen. Then for three dreadful days she did not appear at all.
(from G. Orwell Nineteen Eighty-Four)

The first phrase in the sentence usually relates to something that has gone before. Here the adverbials in front position make the sequence of events clearer. Compare an alternative order.

They passed each other without a glance. She was in the canteen at the usual time on the day after that...
This order is possible, but it is more difficult to read. You might not realize at first that the second sentence is about a different day.

NOTE
Putting an adverbial in front position can also help to get the important information in the right place.

For a week after this, life was like a restless dream.
Like a restless dream is the point of interest. Its best position is at the end of the sentence. If the adverbial is at the end, the important information is less prominent.

A practical guide to English grammar 47

2 These kinds of adverbial often come in front position.

Time Linking Truth Comment