They give us a focus, a form with which to work.
She gave his life a focus, something he hadn't had in too long a time.
The effect is to give the subject more focus than the background.
Nor does the water's surface give the eye a focus or a rest.
An internal editor might help to give his work a more personal focus.
When we're using whole group drama: We must give the class a clear focus to the work.
It's given me a focus, a drive, every day is a new challenge.
She had given Nick a strong clear focus that night.
Harry, in one sense, had given his career a focus.
The last thing I wanted to do was give him a focus.