Stress and Intonation – Part II

SPEAKER:
DR. GURUNATH K. BADIGER
MA., M. PHIL., PH.D.
Head, Department of English
GOVERNMENT FIRST GRADE COLLEGE
AND PG CENTRE, DHARWAD
Karnataka State
CELL: 9448216439
Intonation (Falling Tone)

 In falling tone, the pitch of the voice falls at the

end.
 Normally falling tone is used in
Statements,
‘Wh’ questions,
Commands,
Statements
 1. He’s gone home.
 2. They’re coming tomorrow.
 3. My name is Sheela.
 4. He’ll come soon.
 5. They didn’t join us.
 6. He’s aware of his limitations.
 7. They might have already left.
 8. I can’t afford to do it.
 9. I go for a walk daily.
 10. Perhaps Sohan knows it.
Statements (contd)
 11. I wanted to see him yesterday.
 12. You should know how to do it.
 13. He might arrive any time now.
 14. He’d like to be included in the list.
 15. Ram is very fond of swimming.
 16. Things are becoming difficult for you now.
 17. He’d tell you what to do next.
 18. John would surely come this time.
 19. I don’t want your advice in this matter.
 20. He’s reading a very interesting novel these days.
‘Wh’ Questions (Falling Tone)
 1. Who’s there?
 2. What’s this?
 3.What’s your name?
 4. Where do you live?
 5. How old are you?
 6. When will he come?
 7. Why are you late?
 8. When are they coming?
 9. Who wants it?
 10. When is her birthday?
‘Wh’ Questions’

 11. Which ones do you want?

 12. How’s your sister now?
 13. What did you do then?
 14. Who are you looking for?
 15. Who’s your favourite poet?
 16. Whose pen is that?
 17. Why are you going so soon?
 18. Whose book is this?
 19. How did you do in the examination?
 20. How much does this book cost?
Commands (Falling Tone)

 Stop.
 Drink it.
 Come here.
 Go home.
 Sit down.
 Stand up.
 Shut the door.
 Open the window.
 Call him back.
 Wait a minute.
Commands

 Call him in.

 Show him in.
 Ring him up.
 Open the packet.
 Walk slowly.
 Tell him to behave.
 Look up the dictionary.
 Turn to page forty.
 Post this letter for me.
 Come back home early.
Choice Questions (Falling Tone)
 Will you wait or go?
 Do I wake or sleep?
 Is she reading or sleeping?
 Is he standing or sitting?
 Will you have oranges or bananas?
 Do you want Tea or Coffee?
 Does she want to read or write?
 Does she want it in black or white?
 Does he need a pen or a pencil?
 Would you like to see him today or tomorrow?
Exclamations !!! (Falling Tone)
 Cheers!
 Lovely!
 Damn it!
 Marvellous!
 Good God!
 How nasty!
 How wonderful!
 How beautiful!
 Sheer nonsense!
 Oh! My prophetic soul!
QUESTION TAGS(EXTENTIONS OF STATEMENTS)

 You were right, /weren’t you?

 She has gone, /hasn’t she?
 They have won, /haven’t they?
 He can manage, /can’t he?
 This is an understatement, /isn’t it?
 She is coming with us, /isn’t she?
 He’s a good boy, /isn’t he?
 He hasn’t seen it, /has he?
 She is a school teacher, /isn’t she?
 He’s ready to come, /isn’t he?
QUESTION TAGS(EXTENTIONS OF
STATEMENTS)
 She must go now, /mustn’t she?
 It’s a fine day, /isn’t it?
 You’ve allowed him to go /haven’t you?
 He did it knowingly, /didn’t he?
 He knows nothing about it, /does he?
 It’s happened several times, /hasn’t it?
 John thought he had done it, /didn’t he?
 You have mentioned this before, /haven’t you?
 They have done this job several times, /haven’t they?
 Ram has come, /hasn’t he?
Rising Tone- Requests and Polite
Commands
 Stay there.
 Don’t move.
 See him soon.
 Call him in.
 Keep sitting.
 Please stand up!
 Please sit down!
 Come here, please!
 Be quiet, please!
 Shut the door, please!
Rising Tone- Requests and Polite
Commands
 Pass the salt, please!
 Step aside, please!
 Wait a minute, please!
 Bring him a chair, please!
 Convey this to him.
 See me tomorrow.
 Buy a ticket, please!
 Give me a receipt, please!
 Don’t mention it to him.
 Come again soon.
Rising Tone- Requests and Polite
Commands (Contd)
 Could you manage without it?
 Would you pass the salt?
 Could you tomorrow?
 Could you tell him to come?
 Would you kindly speak to him for me/
 Would you bring the book with you?
 Would you give me your pen?
 Could you buy some postage for me?
 Would you mind closing the door?
 Would you kindly inform him about it?
Rising Tone- Requests and Polite
Commands
 Would you kindly look after my luggage?
 Would you ask him to bring some Tea?
 Would you wait here for some time?
 Would you post these letters for me?
 Do you mind passing the cheese, please?
 Do you mind opening the door, please?
 Do you mind passing the milk?
 Do you mind calling him in/
 Could you see me this evening/
 Do you mind waiting here for some time?
Yes/No Questions (Rising Tone)
 Is John at home?
 Are they playing?
 Am I right?
 Was he informed?
 Were they busy?
 Have they finished?
 Should she read it?
 Couldn’t Mike do it?
 Will he go today?
 Mustn’t he work hard?
Yes/No Questions
 May I go now?
 Shall we go now?
 Has she gone to school?
 Had Tom hurt his finger?
 Do they want to play?
 Did Mary sing a song?
 Has Sheela read the book?
 Have you written to your father?
 Do they like apples?
 Does she take her lunch at one?
COMBINED TONES
REQUESTS OR POLITE COMMANNDS

The question tag ‘will you?’ and ‘won’t you?’

are very often used to soften the commands.
The negative command is spoken with a rising
tone and the question tag ‘will you?’ with a
falling tone.
Falling Tone
 1. Don’t disturb me /will you?
 2. Don’t provoke him/ will you?
 3. Don’t make noise/ will you?
 4. Don’t open the window/will you?
 5. Don’t go away/will you?
 6. Don’t let him come/will you?
 7. Don’t talk so loudly/will you?
 8. Don’t sit there/will you?
 9. Don’t close the door/will you?
 10. Don’t go home/will you?
The affirmative command is spoken with a
falling tone and the question tag with a rising
tone.

 1. Go away/will you?
 2. Sit down/will you?
 3. Write it down/will you?
 4. Come here/will you?
 5. Close the door/will you?
 6. See me tomorrow/will you?
 7. Post the letter/will you?
 8. Give me a receipt/will you?
 9. Read the last paragraph/will you?
 10. Tell me all about it/will you?
The question tag ‘won’t you’ can also be used with
the affirmative command. The pattern will be the
same in A above, namely, Tone II plus tone I.

 1.He could come,/ couldn’t he?

 2. They were mistaken,/weren’t they?
 3. It’s quite likely,/isn’t they?
 4. He hasn’t met them/has he?
 5.They weren’t right,/were they?
 6. He can come again,/can’t he?
 7. She has never heard of it,/has she?
 8. Hari doesn’t smoke,/does he?
 9. You didn’t inform anybody,/did you?
 10. You would like to have some coffee,/wouldn’t you?
 11. You’re going home today,/aren’t you?
 12. She isn’t good-looking,/is she?
 13. His parents weren’t present,/were they?
 14. He isn’t a good swimmer,/is he?
 15. He doesn’t teach Hindi,/does he?
 16. He’ll get another chance/won’t he?
 17. She doesn’t know anything about it/does she?
 18. He doesn’t work in this office,/ does he?
 19. You won’t before this evening,/will you?
 20. Ram didn’t go to school today,/ did he?
PROTESTS AND INCOMPLETE STATEMENTS
PROTESTS

 This can’t be true.

 I haven’t done it.
 He never mentioned it.
 I never said so.
 That wasn’t her idea.
 I never saw him doing it.
 There’s a point in what he’s saying.
 I’d be the last person to say that.
 Who said I wasn’t well?
 I want you to do it personally.
 Thank you
Dr Gurunath Badiger
9448216439