Noun-Verb Syllable Stress

Syllable Stress – is a syllable in a word that is longer and higher in pitch than the others.
 It may be denoted by and accent (‘).
 For example, I say the word ‘record’ (n).
 The emphasis is given to the first syllable, so the accent must be seen over the vowel of
the stressed syllable – récord.
 There are certain English words that can be used as either nouns or verb.
 “I did not record our conversation”, In this sentence the underlined word is used as a verb
because it does an action.
 “Do you have a record of your birth?” While here, the underlined word is used as a noun
because it names a thing.
 General Rule:
Most 2-syllable nouns Most 2-syllable verbs
Are stressed on the first syllable Are stressed on the second syllable
 Take note that this does not apply to all words that can be either nouns or verbs.
 This word (record) in the first sentence is a verb, and since this is a verb, the stress is on
the second syllable – recórd.
 Whereas this word (record) in the second sentence is used as a noun, and since this is a
noun, the stress is on the first syllable -- récord.
 Other examples:
Noun form Verb form Sentence
An óbject To objéct I object to this object.
(a thing) (to oppose)
A désert To desért Lou decided to desert the
(a large, extremely dry area (to abandon) village and teleported to a
of land) desert.
A cóntent To contént I content myself with every
(a subject matter) (to satisfy) content.
 Noun forms are preceded by a, an, the, or the possessive adjectives such as my, your,
his, her, its, our, your, and their.
 Verbs forms are preceded by to or the subject pronouns such as I, you, she, he, it, we,
and they.