WORD STRESS

 

What is Word Stress?

In English, we do not say each syllable 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.

EXAMPLES

photograph, photographer and photographic   

 (Do they sound the same when spoken?)

 

There are two very simple rules about word stress:

1. 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.)

2. We can only stress vowels, not consonants.

EXERCISE

Read the sentences and in each underlined word tell the stressed syllable

1 Can you pass me a plastic knife?
2 I want to take a photography class.
3 China is the place where I was born.
4 Please turn off the television before you go out.
5 I can't decide which book to borrow.
6 Do you understand this lesson?
7 Sparky is a very happy puppy.
8 It is critical that you finish your essay.
9 My Grandfather wears an old-fashioned coat.
10 There is a lot of traffic on the highway today.