Abstract The aim of this paper is to compare the approaches to information focus taken in three functional theories: Functional Grammar, Role and Reference Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar. After discussing what is meant by focus in each theory, I examine the classification of focus in each approach, and its realisations in prosody, syntactic structure and special morphemes. I then look closely at data from authentic spoken interaction in order to highlight similarities and differences, advantages and disadvantages in the three accounts. In the concluding section I suggest a programme for future research.