GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

6 INFORMATION AND EMPHASIS PAGE 54
2 Information in a text
a
In a text, old information usually comes first in the sentence and new information
comes later.
ELEGANT BUILDING
Britain's towns were given a new and an elegant appearance between 1700 and
1830. This period covers the building styles known as Queen Anne, Georgian and
Regency, all three of them periods in which houses were very well designed.
Previously, towns had grown naturally and usually had a disorderly, higgledypiggledy
appearance. In the new age, architects planned whole parts of towns,
and built beautiful houses in terraces, or in squares with gardens in the middle.
The houses of these periods are well-proportioned and dignified, with carefully
spaced windows and handsome front doors. They can be seen in many towns,
especially in London, Edinburgh, Bath, Cheltenham and Brighton.
Brighton became famous after 1784 when the Prince of Wales, later King George
IV, went there regularly, and later built the Royal Pavilion.
(from R. Bowood Our Land in the Making)
The subject of each sentence is something expected in the context. Usually it
relates to something mentioned earlier.
Already mentioned
between 1700 and 1830
Britain's towns
houses... designed
three... periods... houses
The houses of these periods
Brighton
Subject of sentence
This period covers...
towns had...
architects planned...
The houses of these periods are...
They can...
Brighton became...
We can simply repeat a word (Brighton). Or we can use a pronoun if it is clear what
it refers to (The houses... They...). Or we can repeat an idea in different words
(... between 1700 and 1830. This period...). Here both phrases refer to the same
thing, the period of time. The subject architects is also known information because
we can relate it to houses were very well designed.
A subject can be in contrast with something mentioned before.
The towns were expanding rapidly. The villages, on the other hand,...
b
c
A subject can have an adverbial in front of it.
Previously, towns had grown naturally.
Previously is linked to this period. For more on adverbials in front position, • 49(1).
When a sentence starts with something known, it is usually easier to understand. If
the link is not clear at first, then the reader has to work harder to understand the
meaning. In this example, the word order of the second sentence has been changed.
...in many towns, especially in London, Edinburgh, Bath, Cheltenham and
Brighton. After 1784, when the Prince of Wales, later King George IV, went to
Brighton regularly, and later when he built the Royal Pavilion,...
The second sentence is now more difficult to read because the link with the
previous sentence (Brighton) does not come at the beginning.