What's the difference between these two sentences?
On Friday I will go to the bank.
I will go to the bank on Friday.
In the first sentence the time adverbial is at the front. In the second sentence, it's at the back. Both sentences mean exactly the same thing.
But when do we put the time adverbial at the front and when do we put it at the back?
Let's look at the sentence without an adverbial:
I will go to the bank.
This is simple statement of something you will do in the future.
On Friday I will go to the bank.
Here the emphasis is on the day and so that is the important point. Look at this conversation:
A: Can we have lunch soon?
B: I'm a little busy at the moment.
A: How about Friday?
B: I can't. On Friday I'll go to the bank.
I will go to the bank on Friday.
Here the emphasis is on the verb and so the action of going to the bank is the important thing.
A: I've got to get some foreign currency. Can you go to the bank tomorrow?
B: I can't go tomorrow.
A: I need it before the weekend.
B: I will go to the bank on Friday.
Example 2
I'll go to the gym on Sunday.
On Sunday I'll go to the gym.
"I'll go to the gym on Sunday" has determination, a desire, a want to go to the gym. Maybe they've not been for a while. Going to the gym is the important thing.
"On Sunday I'll go to the gym" is quite factual and simply saying what the person will do on Sunday. Their plans for Sunday are the most important thing.
Example 3 - Negative
I won't have a glass of wine on Saturday.
On Saturday I won't have a glass of wine.
In the first sentence the emphasis is on what the person won't do (have a glass of wine). The second sentence focuses on the day that the person won't do the activity.
Comments