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Sentence Stress PDF

The document discusses the basic rules of sentence stress in English. It notes that content words such as verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs are stressed, while structure words like pronouns, prepositions, articles and conjunctions are unstressed. It also explains that the time between stressed words is always the same. Examples of content and structure words are provided. The document concludes by demonstrating how changing the stressed word in a sentence can alter the meaning conveyed.

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Jeoffrey Lance Usabal
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524 views

Sentence Stress PDF

The document discusses the basic rules of sentence stress in English. It notes that content words such as verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs are stressed, while structure words like pronouns, prepositions, articles and conjunctions are unstressed. It also explains that the time between stressed words is always the same. Examples of content and structure words are provided. The document concludes by demonstrating how changing the stressed word in a sentence can alter the meaning conveyed.

Uploaded by

Jeoffrey Lance Usabal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rules for Sentence Stress in English

The basic rules of sentence stress are:

1 - Content Words are stressed

2 - Structure Words are unstressed

3 - The time between stressed words is always


the same
1) Content words - stressed

Words carrying the Example


meaning
main verbs SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY
nouns CAR, MUSIC, MARY
adjectives RED, BIG, INTERESTING
adverbs QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER
negative auxiliaries DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T
2) Structure words - unstressed

Words for correct Example


grammar
pronouns he, we, they
prepositions on, at, into
articles a, an, the
conjunctions and, but, because
auxiliary verbs do, be, have, can, must
* Mark the stressed words in the following sentences.

- Johan is coming over tonight. We are going to work on our homework


together.

- Ecstasy is an extremely dangerous drug.

- We should have visited some more castles while we were traveling


through the back roads of France.

- They are looking forward to your visiting them next January.

- Would you like to come over and play a game of chess?

- They have been having to work hard these last few months on their
challenging experiment.

- Shakespeare wrote passionate, moving poetry.


When you are speaking English the words you stress
can change the underlying meaning of a sentence.
Let's take a look at the following sentence:

I don't think he should get the job.

This simple sentence can have many levels of


meaning based on the word you stress.

Consider the meaning of the following sentences with


the stressed word in bold. Read each sentence aloud
and give a strong stress to the word in bold:
I don't think he should get the job.
l

Meaning: Somebody else thinks he should get the job.

I don't think he should get the job.


-

Meaning: It's not true that I think he should get the job.

I don't think he should get that job.


-

Meaning: Somebody else should get that job.

I don't think he should get that job.


-

Meaning: In my opinion it's wrong that he's going to get that job.

I don't think he should get that job.


-

Meaning: He should get another job.

I don't think he should get that job.


-

Meaning: Maybe he should get something else instead.


I said she might consider a new haircut.
•Not just a haircut.
I said she might consider a new haircut.
•It's a possibility.
I said she might consider a new haircut.
•It was my idea.
I said she might consider a new haircut.
•Not something else.
I said she might consider a new haircut.
•Don't you understand me?
I said she might consider a new haircut.
•Not another person.
I said she might consider a new haircut.
•She should think about it.
I said she might consider a new haircut.
It's a good idea.

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