Left dislocation
Definition
Left dislocation places a noun phrase or other topic before the main clause, then refers back to it with a pronoun or another resumptive expression: That new café, it closes at six. It is especially common in conversation.
Examples
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That new café, it closes at six.
The topic appears first, and it resumes the same referent inside the clause.
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My neighbours, I hardly ever see them.
The object topic is resumed by them.
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The first proposal, nobody really supported it.
The dislocated noun phrase establishes the topic before the clause comments on it.
Left dislocation vs. simple fronting
This book, I really enjoyed.
The object is moved to the front and leaves no resumptive pronoun in its original position.
This book, I really enjoyed it.
The topic is outside the clause and is resumed by it.
Fronting moves a clause element. Left dislocation adds a topic outside the clause and retains a referring expression inside it.
It is common in speech but marked in formal prose
Left dislocation helps speakers establish or reactivate a topic before making a comment. In edited formal writing, a standard clause, a heading or another topic structure is often preferred.
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Your brother, does he still live in Madrid?
The topic is introduced before the question and resumed by he.
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As for your brother, does he still live in Madrid?
As for provides a more explicit topic marker.
Common mistakes
This book I really enjoyed it in formal academic prose.
I really enjoyed this book.
Left dislocation is conversational and may be inappropriate when neutral formal syntax is expected.
My neighbours, I hardly ever see.
My neighbours, I hardly ever see them.
Left dislocation normally includes a resumptive expression such as them inside the clause. Without it, the structure is fronting.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence contains left dislocation?
The topic That restaurant is placed before the clause and resumed by there.Which sentence is fronting rather than left dislocation?
The fronted object leaves no resumptive pronoun after solve.Which sentence naturally resumes a plural topic?
The plural topic is resumed by the plural object pronoun them.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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