Page 29 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes Here are some examples 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 deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy,
and -gy geOLogy
Words ending in -al CRItical, geoLOGical

5. Compound words (words with two parts)
rule example
For compound nouns, the stress BLACKbird, GREENhouse
is on the first part
For compound adjectives, the bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned
stress is on the second part
For compound verbs, the stress to underSTAND, to overFLOW
is on the second part

Examples of vowels in stressed and unstressed syllables and in reduced syllables. The red type
shows the vowel under consideration.

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