Stress in twosyllable words

Stress in two-syllable words

Two-syllable verbs
a. If the second syllable of the verb contains a long
vowel or a diphthong or it ends with more than
one consonant, that second syllable is
stressed.
E.g.
provide

protest

contain

agree

b. If the second syllable contains a short vowel

and ends with one or no consonant, the first
syllable is stressed.
E.g.
enter

worry

travel

open

b. The final syllable is also unstressed if it

contains / /.
E.g.
follow

borrow
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Two-syllable Adjectives
Two syllable adjectives are stressed according to the
same rules as verbs.
E.g.
correct

polite

Two-syllable Adverbs & Prepositions

Other two-syllable words such as adverbs and
prepositions seem to behave like verbs and
adjectives.
E.g.
beyond

very

Two-syllable Nouns
If the second syllable contains a short vowel, the
stress will be on the first syllable. Otherwise, it will
be on the second syllable.
E.g.
money

office

balloon

Exercises

Thanks for
listening!!!