Stress is extremely important in English. Using the wrong stress can make it difficult, or impossible, for native speakers to understand you. While it takes time and effort to master stress patterns, here are 3 word stress patterns that are easy to learn and use. The stressed syllable should be said louder, held longer, and have a higher ptich. Try to recognize these patterns when you listen to native speakers. Practice using them in your daily speech.
1. Compound nouns – stress the first syllable
A compound is two words that together make one noun. Practice stressing the first syllable in the below compounds. Break your speech into short phrases with the slash marks.
- I play basketball / on the playground / with my grandmother / every weekend.
- The team members / used their cell phones / to join the conference call.
2. Two-syllable nouns and verbs – opposite stress
- 2-syllable nouns stress the 1st syllable: office, table, kitchen, paper
- 2-syllable verbs stress the 2nd syllable: decide, reply, invent, agree
Be careful! The same word with different stress can have different meaning!
- This project will help us project a better image
- Please conduct an investigation into his conduct.
3. Phrasal verbs – stress the preposition
Phrasal verbs are very common in English, so their stress pattern is good to know. A phrasal verb is a verb and a preposition that together create one verb. (Examples: hang up, carry out, call off.) In a phrasal verb, both the verb and the preposition must be in the same phrase.
.
- She turned down /the job. Phrasal verb
- She turned /down the street. Verb + preposition
- I want to think over /the offer. Phrasal verb
- I want to think/ over the weekend. Verb + preposition