Word Stress
Word Stress
Word Stress
Word Stress
Patterns In every word in English, there is one main emphasized syllable. The vowel sound
Listen & in this syllable sounds higher in pitch, longer, and louder, and this is called
Practice stress. This helps create the rhythm of the language, and knowing how to recognize
Related Topics the stressed syllable will help you with comprehension. Placing the stress where it
should be when you're speaking helps native speakers understand you better as well.
More
Information
Sometimes you can predict the stress placement because of the type of word or the ending you put on it.
Here are some general rules:
The following tables can help you decide which words are content words and which words are structure
words:
Exceptions
The above rules are for for what is called "neutral" or normal stress. But sometimes we can stress a word
that would normally be only a structure word, for example to correct information. Look at the following
dialogue:
Note also that when "be" is used as a main verb, it is usually unstressed (even though in this case it is a
content word).