Fronting: Moving an element to the beginning for focus or connection

Fronting moves a word, phrase or clause from its usual position to the beginning of a sentence. It can create contrast, establish a topic, connect with earlier information or produce a marked literary effect.

Examples

This problem, we can solve immediately.

The object is placed first to establish the topic.
Across the valley stood an abandoned castle.

A place phrase is fronted, followed by locative inversion.
What she needed most, nobody could provide.

The fronted clause receives strong focus.

Neutral order vs. fronted order

Neutral order

I had never seen such a crowded room.

The subject begins the sentence.

Fronted order

Such a crowded room I had never seen.

The object phrase is moved forward for dramatic emphasis.

Fronting changes information structure and emphasis, not the basic participants or event.

Fronting does not always cause inversion

Some fronted negative or restrictive adverbials require subject–auxiliary inversion. A fronted object or topic usually keeps ordinary subject–verb order in the remaining clause.

This proposal, I strongly support.

The object is fronted, but I strongly support keeps normal order.
Rarely have I heard such a clear explanation.

The negative-frequency adverb triggers inversion.

Common mistakes

This book, recommend I highly.

This book, I highly recommend.

Object fronting does not normally reverse the subject and verb.

Never I have seen that before.

Never have I seen that before.

A fronted negative adverbial requires subject–auxiliary inversion.

Quick check

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly fronts an object without unnecessary inversion?

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Definition