The present paper attempts to provide plausible explanations for English sen-tences which are cognitively synonymous yet superficially different. Altogether 25 movement transformations in English are discussed and their communicative functions explained on the basis of three principles: From Old to New Principle (a pragmatic principle)' From Light to Heavy Principle (a rhythmic principle), and From Low to High Principle (a syntactic principle). Finally, several pedagogically important gener-alizations have been made with regard to the nature and function of these principles.