Lesson 16

Sentence stress
Throwing away unimportant words
To convey the meaning in a sentence, native English speakers usually stress important
words and throw away small, unimportant words. “Throwing away” means these
unimportant words are not given the same length and vocal energy.
Task: Practice the following exercises , noting how emphasizing a word in a sentence can
change the intonation, as well as the meaning.
Sophie might walk to the cinema in Hammersmith.
Sophie might walk to the cinema in Hammersmith.
Sophie might walk to the cinema in Hammersmith.
Sophie might walk to the cinema in Hammersmith.
Sophie might walk to the cinema in Hammersmith.
Stress analysis
By stressing ‘Sophie’, we make it clear it was not Helen.
By stressing ‘might’, we make it clear it is not definite that she will
walk.
By stressing ‘walk’, we make it clear she is not driving.
By stressing ‘cinema’, we make it clear she is not going to the theater.
By stressing ‘Hammersmith’, we make it clear she is not going to
Chiswick.
Practice
We will be driving to Somerset next week.
We will be driving to Somerset next week.
We will be driving to Somerset next week.
We will be driving to Somerset next week.
We will be driving to Somerset next week.
Practice
Will you come and dine with me tomorrow?
Will you come and dine with me tomorrow?
Will you come and dine with me tomorrow?
Will you come and dine with me tomorrow?