Sentence Stress Rules
Sentence Stress Rules
The basic rules of sentence stress are:
- content words are stressed
- structure words are unstressed
- the time between stressed words is always the same
The following tables can help you decide which words are content words and which words are structure words:
Content words - stressed
| 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 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).
+ نوشته شده در ساعت 22:28 توسط Haadi Saeedi
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