Word and sentence stress

Word Stress and Sentence Stress (accent tonique anglais ou accent du mot et l'accent de la phrase)

Word Stress and Sentence Stress

In English, we always stress at least one syllable in words longer than one syllable.

Why is it important?

BE UNDERSTOOD BY NATIVES

IT IS LESS TIRING

IMPROVES YOUR ACCENT

Word Stress and Sentence Stress

IN FRENCH The intonation usually rises slightly at the end of each sentence and very slightly at the end of each word. All syllables are pronounced with roughly the same length. IN ENGLISHOne syllable will be the star of the word and at least one word in a sentence will be stressed.By stressing a syllable, it will be stronger, longer and/or higher than the others . There are some rules which help you identify the star syllables.

Word Stress

Don't desert me in the desert you deserter !

Word Stress

Don't desert me in the desert you deserter !

Two-syllable words VERBS In most cases the stress is on the second syllable deCIDE aGREE aLLOW

Exceptions ANSwer CANcel LISten

comPARE reMOVE reCEIVE

proVIDE preFER preSENT

Word Stress

Don't desert me in the desert you deserter !

Two-syllable words NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES In most cases the stress is on the first syllable COpy FLOWer PEOple

Exceptions caREER poLICE comPLETE

CAREful GENtle TAble

TEACHer OFfice CIty

Word Stress

Two-syllable words NOUN / VERB PAIRS - the same word can be a noun or a verb depending on context

VERB record produce export project protest insult update present

NOUN record produce export project protest insult update present

Word Stress

Don't desert me in the desert you deserter !

Three-syllable words The stress is usually on either the first or second syllable. There is no rule to help but looking at the beginning or the end of the word can usually give you an idea. Nouns CONfidence POLitics apPROVal reMOVal eMOtion deVOtion

AdjectivesWONderful CURious FURious athLETic poETic inSTINCtive

VerbsORganise SIGnifiy COMpensate conSIDer reMEMber underSTAND

Word Stress

Don't desert me in the desert you deserter !

AFFIXES Adding prefixes or suffixes does not change the stressed syllable. verb - to forget forgetful forgetfulness forgettable unforgettable

noun - mother motherhood motherless motherland grandmother

adjective - happy unhappy happily happiness

Sentence Stress

Can you get something for me in town while you're there?

Certain words are accentuated whilst others are not. The content words are stressed. The function (or tool) words are not. This gives the rhythm of English.

Content words

ADVERBSoften, carefully, never, quietly QUESTION WORDS who, what, when

NUMBERS NEGATIONS have not, do not, will not, couldn't, nowhere

NOUNS MAIN VERBS ADJECTIVES

Function words

PRODUCTS the, a, an VERB - Be AUXILIARY VERBS does, can, have, will, could

PREPOSITIONSbefore, next to, opposite PRONOUNS they, she, he POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES my, your, our

DETERMINANTSsome, any, all CONJUNCTIONS and, or because

I'll send you an email as soon as the report's ready. Philip bought new shoes today.