Spotlight / Focus
What is the most important new information?
含义
The part of the message that carries the main emphasis, contrast, correction, or answer to the current question.
如何识别
Ask which part would be stressed or corrected in context.
示例
only|even|it was|not X but Y
it was Anna who|ANNA did it|only Peter
Anna bought the book, not Peter.
Visual guide
Message = background + focus Who bought the book? background: bought the book FOCUS: Anna Anna bought the book. = Anna, not Peter
Same focus, many shapes Stress: ANNA did it Cleft: it was Anna who... Particle: only Peter Contrast: not X but Y Word order/focus slot may mark it Task: find the spotlight
语言视角
用母语深入讲解
Focus can be shown through word order, stress, particles/adverbs such as 只, 连...都, and the 是...的 construction.
我是昨天来的。
wǒ shì zuótiān lái de = it was yesterday that I came
在所学语言中
英语常用重音、强调句（如 It was ... who/that ...）、成分提前和上下文来突出最重要或形成对比的信息。
It was John who called.
John 是被强调的新信息：打电话的人是 John，不是别人。
学习者可能只靠调整词序来强调，但英语更常需要重读、强调句或更清楚的表达，否则重点不明显。
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.