focus on
Phrasal Verbs & Multi-word Verbs

Meaning

to direct attention or effort toward something

Primary Function

expresses intentionality about where energy should be directed

Communicative Purpose

to signal that the speaker wants to concentrate resources (time, thought) on particular aspects such as tasks, goals, or information

Pattern

focus on

Core Structure

focus on

Função primária

expresses intentionality about where energy should be directed

Propósito comunicativo

to signal that the speaker wants to concentrate resources (time, thought) on particular aspects such as tasks, goals, or information

Situações de gatilho

during meetings when deciding priorities, while studying for exams, during project planning, when needing focused practice

Contextos

everyday conversation, professional settings like business meetings and workshops, academic environments, personal development discussions

Padrão

focus on

Estrutura central

focus on

Slots de substituição

the details, specific aspects, particular goal, improvement, enhancement

Colocados típicos

  • mainly
  • strictly
  • primarily
  • chiefly
  • essentially

Substituições comuns

  • concentrate on
  • zero in on
  • pay attention to

Erros comuns

'focus about'; 'focus to do' – misuse of preposition or verb form

Similar / contraste

pay attention to, concentrate on, zero in on

Interferências

Speakers of languages with different verb‑preposition patterns may incorrectly use prepositions such as 'focus at' or 'focus upon'

Família do chunk

  • focus group

Nuance

implies sustained concentration rather than a brief glance

Efeito pragmático

signals importance and directs the listener's attention to a particular topic or task

Dica de memória

focus on = zoom in

Nota

Used to indicate directing attention or effort toward a subject or task

Upgrade path

focus on the big picture

Frequência: Very highFormulaicidade: FixedTipo de construção: Prepositional verb phrasePrioridade de aquisição: Automatic productionPrioridade de output: BothTag de espaçamento: Immediate

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