English Pronunciation: Sentence Stress Rules (EnglishClub.

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Rules for Sentence Stress in English

The basic rules of sentence stress are: 1. 2. 3. 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 main verbs nouns adjectives adverbs negative auxiliaries Example SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY CAR, MUSIC, MARY RED, BIG, INTERESTING QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T

Structure words - unstressed

Words for correct grammar pronouns prepositions articles conjunctions auxiliary verbs Example he, we, they on, at, into a, an, the and, but, because 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 norm 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).

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12/6/2006

English Pronunciation: Sentence Stress Rules (EnglishClub.com)

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http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/sentence-stress-rules.htm

12/6/2006