Word stress

Rule 1 The first part of a compound word is usually stressed. Here are some examples: NOTEbook, HAIRcut, AIRport, BATHroom, LUNCHroom. Here is a sentence: John left his NOTEbook in the LUNCHroom.

Rule 2 Stress is usually placed on the syllable that contains the root or base word. That means that word prefixes are usually NOT stressed. Here are a few examples: unPAID, inCLUDE, preDICT, reMIND, inVEST. Here is a sentence: Thomas did not preDICT that his inVESTments would lose value.

Rule 3 It also means that word suffixes are usually NOT stressed. For example: SLOWly, FASTer, SPEAKing, CAREful, WORKable. Here is a sentence: James is SPEAKing SLOWly for the students.

Exception Exceptions to the suffix rule are English words of French origin such as: millionAIRE, volunTEER and picturESQUE. These words are stressed on the suffix itself. Here is a sentence: Bill Gates is a millionAIRE.

Suffixes affect word stress In some words the stress or emphasis will fall on the suffix itself. This is often true when a suffix of French origin is added to English words. Here are some examples: enginEER, boutiQUE, picturESQUE, chaufFUER, vaLET, VietnamESE, refuGEE

When a suffix is added to the end of a base word, the stress pattern of the word usually changes. The stress usually falls on the syllable that comes immediately before the added suffix. Paris Parisian Democrat democratic Alphabet alphabetical Mystery mysterious Possible possibility Accuse accusation

Symptom symptomatic Alcohol alcoholic Athlete athletic Economy economical Magic Atlantic identical developmental accidental Biology ecology reality activity nationality Japanese auctioneer pioneer trustee Columbian Cambodian Canadian

In many English words the stress falls on the syllable just before the suffix. This pattern works with the suffixes; graphy, tion, ial, ity, & ogy. Here are some examples: phoTOgraphy, eduCAtion, meMORial, curIOSity, biOLogy

In verbs ending with the suffix "ate" the second syllable before the suffix receives the most stress. Here are a few examples: GRADuate, apPREciate, comMUNicate, arTIculate

Stress on root or base unPAID- The rent was unpaid for three months. inCLUDE- Please include your name and address. preDICT-Thomas predicts it will be sunny tomorrow. unABLE- I'm unable to help you today. reMIND- Will you remind me to call home after class? prePARE- Richard said he would prepare dinner tonight.

Prefixes NOT stressed SLOWly-Christina walks very slowly. FASTer- John walks faster than I do. SPEAKing- Jean likes speaking in class. CAREful- Please be careful walking home at night. SMALLest- Lucy is the smallest person in the class. DRINKable -The water in the bathroom is undrinkable!

Most two-syllable words stress the first nouns (90%) are stressed on the first syllable. Here are some examples: MARket-Sally buys bananas at the market. TEAcher-Mr. Williams is my computer teacher. FRIday -We're going to the movies on Friday. PAper- I need to buy paper for the printer. KITchen -The kitchen is a mess! BROther Robert's brother is very kind.

Stress Shifts Same spelling, different pronunciation Conduct yourself properly so that your conduct will not be questioned. It may conflict with my schedule. If it does, a conflict will arise. When you convert from one religion to another, you are known as a convert. Don’t desert me when we go into the desert. I object to that ugly object being in this room. She will present you with a present on your birthday. The farm will produce food for the produce section of the supermarket.

You need a permit to park here. Please permit me to part here. That sounds like an insult. Don’t insult the visitors. They see produce at the market. Cars produce a lot of smog. They negotiated a contract. Your muscles contract when you exercise. He made a lot of progress.

Let’s progress to the next item. Handle the object carefully. Did his boss object to the change? She got an increase in pay. They tried to increase their profits. Please answer the questions on the survey. Let’s survey the situation before we decide. We completed the project. Project the slides onto the wall. The crowd’s conduct was disorderly. We are planning to conduct an experiment on that.