UNIT 5 INTRODUCING STRESS PATTERNS

Many words in English are unstressed when they are in sentences. For example, when you say the words to or
for on their own, they sound like the numbers two and four. However, normally when they are in the middle of
sentences, to and for don’t sound like numbers because they are unstressed.

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Note: - Speakers may choose to stress function words to create a special meaning. For example, the normal
pattern for What do you want? is . However, you can choose to stress the pronoun you if you want to
contrast it with another pronoun: (I know what he wants, but) what do YOU want?

- In this book, we only use the and symbols for normal patterns, not for special meaning.
- If you stress function words by mistake, it may cause a misunderstanding because your listener may look for
a special meaning.
- Function words are sometimes stressed at the end of a sentence. For example, the sentence Yes, I do has the
pattern

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When you hear sentences in English, you can hear the combination of stressed and unstressed words and
syllables as a stress parrtern. If this pattern is regular, you can hear it as a regular rhythm. Listen to the poem

and notice the rhythm

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 PRACTICE
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5.1 Listen and underline the word you hear

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5.2 Listen and underline the sentence which does not have the same stress pattern as the word at the
beginning of the line.

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5.3 Write the sentences from the box in the correct columns of the table. Then listen, check and repeat.

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5.4 Read this poem. Underline each stressed word or syllable. Write the stress pattern after each line. Then,
listen, check, pause after each line and repeat.

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5.5 Decide whether these short sentences and phrases has same (s)ame or (d)ifferent stress patterns?

1. She told me her name. – A litre of milk.

2. He went by car. – Over the hill.
3. He plays the guitar. – I’ll try to find out.
4. On holiday. – A chest of drawers.
5. They live in a flat. – it’s against the law.
6. What does it look like? – She’s really angry.
7. I’m afraid I can’t. – In the afternoon
8. She’s meeting her boyfriend. – It’s under the table.
9. She’s completely exshausted. – He wants to be a doctor.
10. She’s expecting a baby. – I was looking for David

FURTHER PRACTICE
Sort out these lines to make two separate poems. (One is called “Superman’s Incredible Birthday Surprise” and
the other is “How the Fairy Godmother Cured Cinderella’s Depression”). Use the rhythm and rhymes as well as
the sense to help you.

Write S by the line from “Superman” poem. Write C by the lines from the “Cinderella” poem.

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