What is Word Stress?
English, we do not say each syllale with the same force or strength. In one word, we accentuate ONE syllable. We say one syllable very loudly (big, strong, important) and all the other syllables very quietly.
Let's take 3 words: photograph, photographer and photographic. Do they sound the same when spoken? No. Because we accentuate (stress) ONE syllable in each word. And it is not always the same syllable. So the shape of each word is different.
| click word to hear | total syllables | stressed syllable |
| PHO TO GRAPH | 3 | #1 |
| 4 | #2 | |
| 4 | #3 |
This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables: TEACHer, JaPAN, CHINa, aBOVE, converSAtion, INteresting, imPORtant, deMAND, etCETera, etCETera, etCETera
The syllables that are not stressed are weak or small or quiet. Native speakers of English listen for the STRESSED syllables, not the weak syllables. If you use word stress in your speech, you will instantly and automatically improve your pronunciation and your comprehension.
Try to hear the stress in individual words each time you listen to English - on the radio, or in films for example. Your first step is to HEAR and recognise it. After that, you can USE it!
There are two very important rules about word stress:
- One word, one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. So if you hear two stresses, you have heard two words, not one word.)
- The stress is always on a vowel.
Why is Word Stress Important?
Word stress is not used in all languages. Some languages, Japanese or French for example, pronounce each syllable with eq-ual em-pha-sis.Other languages, English for example, use word stress.
Word stress is not an optional extra that you can add to the English language if you want. It is part of the language! English speakers use word stress to communicate rapidly and accurately, even in difficult conditions. If, for example, you do not hear a word clearly, you can still understand the word because of the position of the stress.
Think again about the two words photograph and photographer. Now imagine that you are speaking to somebody by telephone over a very bad line. You cannot hear clearly. In fact, you hear only the first two syllables of one of these words, photo... Which word is it, photograph or photographer? Of course, with word stress you will know immediately which word it is because in reality you will hear either PHOto... or phoTO... So without hearing the whole word, you probably know what the word is ( PHOto...graph or phoTO...grapher). It's magic! (Of course, you also have the 'context' of your conversation to help you.)
This is a simple example of how word stress helps us understand English. There are many, many other examples, because we use word stress all the time, without thinking about it.
Where do I Put Word Stress?
There are some rules about which syllable to stress. But...the rules are rather complicated! Probably the best way to learn is from experience. Listen carefully to spoken English and try to develop a feeling for the "music" of the language.
When you learn a new word, you should also learn its stress pattern. If you keep a vocabulary book, make a note to show which syllable is stressed. If you do not know, you can look in a dictionary. All dictionaries give the phonetic spelling of a word. This is where they show which syllable is stressed, usually with an apostrophe (') just before or just after the stressed syllable. (The notes at the front of the dictionary will explain the system used.) Look at (and listen to) this example for the word plastic. There are 2 syllables. Syllable #1 is stressed.
| example | phonetic spelling: dictionary A | phonetic spelling: dictionary B |
| PLAS TIC | | |
| /plæs'tIk/ | /'plæs tIk/ |
Rules of Word Stress in English: There are two very simple rules about word stress:
- One word has only one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you hear two stresses, you hear two words. Two stresses cannot be one word. It is true that there can be a "secondary" stress in some words. But a secondary stress is much smaller than the main [primary] stress, and is only used in long words.)
- We can only stress vowels, not consonants. Here are some more, rather complicated, rules that can help you understand where to put the stress. But do not rely on them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try to "feel" the music of the language and to add the stress naturally.
1 Stress on first syllable
| rule | example |
| Most 2-syllable nouns | PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble |
| Most 2-syllable adjectives | PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy |
2 Stress on last syllable
| rule | example |
| Most 2-syllable verbs | to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to beGIN |
There are many two-syllable words in English whose meaning and class change with a change in stress. The word present, for example is a two-syllable word. If we stress the first syllable, it is a noun (gift) or an adjective (opposite of absent). But if we stress the second syllable, it becomes a verb (to offer). More examples: the words export, import, contract and object can all be nouns or verbs depending on whether the stress is on the first or second syllable.
3 Stress on penultimate syllable (penultimate = second from end)
| rule | example |
| Words ending in -ic | GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geoLOGic |
| Words ending in -sion and -tion | teleVIsion, reveLAtion |
For a few words, native English speakers don't always "agree" on where to put the stress. For example, some people say teleVIsion and others say TELevision. Another example is: CONtroversy and conTROversy.
4 Stress on ante-penultimate syllable (ante-penultimate = third from end)
| rule | example |
| Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phy and -gy | deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy |
| Words ending in -al | CRItical, geoLOGical |
5 Compound words (words with two parts)
| rule | example |
| For compound nouns, the stress is on the first part | BLACKbird, GREENhouse |
| For compound adjectives, the stress is on the second part | bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned |
| For compound verbs, the stress is on the second part | to underSTAND, to overFLOW |
Stress rules
Here are some general rules for stress in words, not in work!
Take note that the syllable stressed is underlined.
1. Nouns and verbs of more than two syllables ending in -vowel consonant or -vowel consonant silent -e have their stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
e.g. fortitude detonate graduate
2. Some words ending in -ee, -eer, ese, -oo, -ette, -ette, and -oon have their stress on the final syllable.
e.g. refugee Macanese moutaineer
3. Some words ending in -ery, -orous, and -eous have their stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
e.g. gaseous sonorous archery
4. Some words ending in -ic, -ish, -ive, -ure, -ation, -mental have their stress on the penultimate syllable.
e.g. terrific admonish revelation
5. Weak suffixes -ly, -er (except after Greek elements), -ness, -ful, -less, -able, -ment do NOT affect stress: when a prefix or suffix of Old English origin is added to a word, it generally has no effect on stress position.
Take note that the syllable stressed is underlined.
1. Nouns and verbs of more than two syllables ending in -vowel consonant or -vowel consonant silent -e have their stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
e.g. fortitude detonate graduate
2. Some words ending in -ee, -eer, ese, -oo, -ette, -ette, and -oon have their stress on the final syllable.
e.g. refugee Macanese moutaineer
3. Some words ending in -ery, -orous, and -eous have their stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
e.g. gaseous sonorous archery
4. Some words ending in -ic, -ish, -ive, -ure, -ation, -mental have their stress on the penultimate syllable.
e.g. terrific admonish revelation
5. Weak suffixes -ly, -er (except after Greek elements), -ness, -ful, -less, -able, -ment do NOT affect stress: when a prefix or suffix of Old English origin is added to a word, it generally has no effect on stress position.
Rules for Sentence Stress in English
The basic rules of sentence stress are: content words are stressed- Structure words are unstressed 2.The time between stressed words is always the same
| Words carrying the meaning | Example |
| 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 |
Structure words - unstressed
| Words for correct grammar | Example |
| pronouns | he, we, they |
| prepositions | on, at, into |
| articles | a, an, the |
| conjunctions | and, but, because |
| auxiliary verbs | do, be, have, can, must |
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:"They've been to Mongolia, haven't they?"
"No, THEY haven't, but WE have.
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).
Using suffixes to predict stress
(A) Stress the suffix itself:
| - ee | employee refugee trainee referee |
| - eer | engineer career volunteer |
| - ese | Chinese Japanese Portuguese |
| - ique | unique antique technique |
(B) Stress the syllable immediately before the suffix:
| - ial | memorial financial artificial essential |
| - ual | visual unusual intellectual individual |
| - ian | Canadian vegetarian pedestrian politician |
| - sion | explosion occasion conclusion permission |
| - tion | definition production situation qualification |
| - ient | ancient sufficient efficient deficient proficient |
| - cious | delicious conscious suspicious judicious |
| - tious | ambitious cautious superstitious conscientious |
| - ic | academic energetic fantastic terrific realistic |
| - ible | edible flexible incredible impossible |
| - ity | ability necessity publicity possibility humidity |
| - ify | classify terrify humidify personify solidify |
| - logy | biology sociology anthropology psychology |
| - graphy | geography autobiography photography pornography |
| - meter | kilometer parameter speedometer thermometer |
(C) Stress the second syllable before the suffix:
| - ate | operate exaggerate associate integrate certificate |
| - ize | apologize criticize recognize computerize |
| - ary | secretary necessary contemporary vocabulary |
| - ous | dangerous mysterious spontaneous simultaneous |
2. Using Parts of Speech to predict stress
(A) For certain two-syllable words used as both nouns and verbs,
stress nouns on the first syllable, and verbs on the second syllable.
stress nouns on the first syllable, and verbs on the second syllable.
| Noun Verb Example 1. record record The bank recorded a new record yesterday. 2. present present He presented his wife with a beautiful present. 3. conduct conduct They're conducting a study into his conduct. 4. suspect suspect The suspect was suspected of robbing the bank. 5. desert desert The desert is so dry that it is usually deserted. |
(B) Stress compound nouns on the first part/word:
| deadline classroom software typewriter policeman airplane bus station air conditioner sports car credit card stock market Great wall |
(C) Stress two-word verbs more strongly on the second word,
but for their noun equivalents, stress them on the first part.
| Noun: Here's the printout. She's a dropout. Where's the checkout counter? There was a holdup at the bank. This clearly is a setup. | Verb: He printed it out. She dropped out. Can I check it out? Hold up your hand. I'll set up a meeting for you. |
| 1.RULE 1 : two syllable words a)Noun/Adj of 2 syllables: stress 1st syllable: Ex: student, table, sticker... happy, random, courage.... Except: machine , event b)Verbs of 2 syllables :stress 2nd syllable Ex: to admit, to intent, to construct... c)Verbs of 2 syllables-ending with OW, EN, Y, EL, ER, LE, ISH :stress 1st syllable Ex: to open, to follow, to hurry, to struggle, to flatter, to finish.. 2.RULE 2 : three or > three syllable words - stress 3rd syllable- counting backwards: nhấn vần thứ 3 từ sau đếm tới. Ex: to celebrate,curriculum, to unify... Except: to develop, imagine, banana 3.RULE 3 : suffixes: a) stress before CIV(consonant-I-vowel) Ex: australia, religious, physician.. b) stress before IC Ex: titanic, panasonic, pacific.... Except: rhetoric, lunatic, catholic, arithmetic, politics, Arabic c) stress on the following ending syllables: ADE, OO, OON, EE, EEN, EER, ESE, ISE, IZE, AIRE, SELF Ex: pickaboo, millionaire, cocoon, analyze, engineer, themselves.... d) stress before TION, TAL Ex: tradition, continental,.... 4. RULE 4: phrases 4.1. noun phrases: a) WH - to inf ; whether/if-to inf ; gerund+ obj :stress on the last word Ex: what to do, learning english... b) compound nouns : * N+N , N+gerund , gerund+N: stress on 1st element Ex : river bank, coal mining, living room... ** N + adj : stress on N Ex: a handsome and good man... *** N( possession, material, component) + N: stress on both of them Ex : my father's book, wood chair, egg cake... 4.2. adj / adv phrases : stress on the last word Ex : the book on the table, the girl standing overthere, in the morning , by car... 5. RULE 5 : sentences stress on * verbs : the last verb * nouns : the last noun * adv * complement * before commas * on reflexive pronouns | |
Surya Prakash.
WORD STRESS in English
SIX BASIC RULES
to help you place the tonic accent on multi-syllable words in Engish.
These rules do not cover all the words in English; but they do cover the large majority of plurisyllabic words in the language.
The problem: should you say: difficult or difficult or difficult?
Where do we put the accent on multi-syllable words in English? English people don't often make mistakes, but they never learn any rules! Obviously therefore there must be some fairly simple basic "rules" that apply to words with 2, 3, or 4 syllables. Here are the most important of these rules.
1. A word is normally stressed on the first syllable, unless there is a reason to put the stress somewhere else.
2. The "reasons" are either suffixes (like -ity) or prefixes (like con-, dis-, ex- or in-).
3. If the suffix (ending) starts with the letters i or u this will affect the position of stress in a word.
Sample suffixes: -ion, -ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity, etc.
The stress comes on the syllable before the suffix.
Examples: Atlantic, comic, sufficient, explanation, residual.
There are only a very few exceptions to this rule.
Sample suffixes: -ion, -ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity, etc.
The stress comes on the syllable before the suffix.
Examples: Atlantic, comic, sufficient, explanation, residual.
There are only a very few exceptions to this rule.
4. Other suffixes do not affect the stress of a word.
Sample suffixes: -al, -ous, -ly, -er, -ed, -ist, -ing, -ment
Examples: Permanent, permanently.
Sample suffixes: -al, -ous, -ly, -er, -ed, -ist, -ing, -ment
Examples: Permanent, permanently.
5. ► Prefixes are not normally stressed in two-syllable words, except in some nouns or adjectives.
Examples: To ex'pand, to de'fend; but an 'expert, a report.
Nouns may need to be learned individually.
► Prefixes are usually stressed in three-syllable nouns and adjectives, but not always stressed in verbs.
Examples: 'Continent, 'incident, 'exercise;
to con'sider, to en'visage but to 'indicate
(all three syllable verbs ending in -ate are stressed on the first syllable).
Examples: To ex'pand, to de'fend; but an 'expert, a report.
Nouns may need to be learned individually.
► Prefixes are usually stressed in three-syllable nouns and adjectives, but not always stressed in verbs.
Examples: 'Continent, 'incident, 'exercise;
to con'sider, to en'visage but to 'indicate
(all three syllable verbs ending in -ate are stressed on the first syllable).
6. Rule 3 takes priority over all others, notably when a "rule 3 ending" is followed by a "rule 4 ending",
Examples : perpetually, deliciously, conditional, conditioner, illusionist.
Examples : perpetually, deliciously, conditional, conditioner, illusionist.
This list of rules is not complete, but it does explain where to place the main accent in the majority of words in English.
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