Chapter 6 Sentence stress have seen that every word of two or more syllables, when said alone, has a stress on one lables. This is called word-stress connected speech we do not hear a stress on every word Some words lose their stresses, especially when we talk quickly, other words keep their stresses and these stressed syllables form what is called sentence-stress Sentence-stress has two main functions. Its first function is to indicate the important words in the sentence(from the point of view of grammar, meaning or the speakers attitude). For example I could hardly believe my eyes /ai ked 'ha dli bi'li v mai 'aiz/ In this sentence the words"hardly,"believe"and"eyes"are stressed because they are Important in meaning. The second function of sentence-stress is to serve as the basis for the rhythmical structure of the sentence. The rhythm of English speech is formed by the recurrence of stresses syllables at more or less regular intervals of time and by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables Under the influence of the latter peculiarity of rhythm of English speech, important words in meaning which are usually stressed may be pronounced without sentence-stress. For example Very good. Not very good /veri 'gud/ /'not veri gud/ Words which are usually stressed in English unemphatic speech belong to content words(sk ial), namely, nouns, adjectives, numerals, principal verbs, adverbs, demonstrative, interrogative, emphasizing pronouns and the absolute form of the possessive pronouns Those which are usually unstressed in English unemphatic speech are form words, namely, auxiliary and modal verbs, verb to be, monosyllabic prepositions, monosyl labic conjunctions and articles, personal pronouns, possessive pronouns(except absolute ones: mine hers ..) reflexive pronouns are usually unstressed Examples: I am ' reading a 'very 'interesting novel Who was that on the phone? You must ' do it your'self wenty is e'nough Dress yourself more neatly The 'book that I have just 'read is ' here Note: nuclear fall or nuclear rise is also a kind of sentence-stress. For this see part three Intonation However, it is necessary to point out that any word in a sentence may be logically stressed if it implies special emphasis or contrast. Examples We heard John'talking(plain statement of fact)
Chapter 6 Sentence Stress We have seen that every word of two or more syllables, when said alone, has a stress on one of its syllables. This is called word-stress. But in connected speech we do not hear a stress on every word. Some words lose their stresses, especially when we talk quickly, other words keep their stresses and these stressed syllables form what is called sentence-stress. Sentence-stress has two main functions: Its first function is to indicate the important words in the sentence (from the point of view of grammar, meaning or the speaker’s attitude). For example: I could hardly believe my eyes. /ai kәd 'ha:dli bi'li:v mai 'aiz/ In this sentence the words “hardly”, “believe” and “eyes” are stressed because they are important in meaning. The second function of sentence-stress is to serve as the basis for the rhythmical structure of the sentence. The rhythm of English speech is formed by the recurrence of stresses syllables at more or less regular intervals of time and by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables. Under the influence of the latter peculiarity of rhythm of English speech, important words in meaning which are usually stressed may be pronounced without sentence-stress. For example: Very good. Not very good /'veri 'gud/ /'nɔt veri 'gud/ Words which are usually stressed in English unemphatic speech belong to content words(实 词), namely, nouns, adjectives, numerals, principal verbs, adverbs, demonstrative, interrogative, emphasizing pronouns and the absolute form of the possessive pronouns. Those which are usually unstressed in English unemphatic speech are form words, namely, auxiliary and modal verbs, verb to be, monosyllabic prepositions, monosyllabic conjunctions and articles, personal pronouns, possessive pronouns (except absolute ones: mine hers ….), reflexive pronouns are usually unstressed. Examples: I am 'reading a 'very 'interesting 'novel. 'Who was 'that on the 'phone? You must 'do it your'self. 'Twenty is e'nough. 'Dress yourself more 'neatly They 'help each other. The 'book that I have 'just 'read is 'here. Note: nuclear fall or nuclear rise is also a kind of sentence-stress. For this see Part Three “Intonation”. However, it is necessary to point out that any word in a sentence may be logically stressed if it implies special emphasis or contrast. Examples: We 'heard 'John 'talking. (plain statement of fact)
We heard John talking(implied contrast"but we didnt see him".) We heard John talking. (implied contrast-" but we didnt hear Mary") We heard John talking (implied contrast-"but others didnt) Im singing A word which is logically stressed may stand at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence, and is usually the last stressed word in it. Sentence-stress on words following logical stress disappears, other (a)I didnt know you were leaving (I thought it was he who was leaving (b)What did Tony say to Sally? He spoke to me. (not to Sally) (c)I can't do the job Don' t think I cant do it) (d)I don't know if you mean to see Peter. But if you see him, (please give him my good wishes) (e)(I know she has been working very hard. )But what does she work for? Some form words are stressed in certain special cases 1)Auxiliary and modal verbs, as well as the link verb to be, are stressed in the followi (1)At the beginning of a sentence, that is to say, in general and alternative questions, e.g Have you finished your homework? Do you 'like swimming or'skating? Note that in the examples above, the initial auxiliary or modal verbs or verb to be may be unstressed, but this may make the questions sound casual (2)When they are final, used as short answers to general questions, e. g Have you 'read the book? Yes, I'have Are you on' duty today? Yes, I'am However, they are not stressed when used as answers to special questions, e. g Who is on 'duty today? T 'Who has a ' rubber? Tom has (3)In contracted negative forms, e.g He won't be ' late It 'doesnt matter (4)Verb"to be" is stressed when final and preceded by the subject which is unstressed, e.g Here you are I'don't ' know where she ' was (5)The auxiliary verb"to be"is stressed in emphatic constructions, e.g He 'did 'write to me (6) Modal verbs“ ought to”,“must”( repressing strong certainty and expectation)," should (meaning ought to) and "may" (indicating possibility)are al ways, e.g You 'ought to 'do it 'now
We 'heard John talking. (implied contrast “but we didn’t see him ”.) We heard 'John talking. (implied contrast- “but we didn’t hear Mary ”.) 'We heard John talking. (implied contrast- “but others didn’t”.) We heard John 'talking. (implied contrast- “but we didn’t hear him singing ”.) A word which is logically stressed may stand at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence, and is usually the last stressed word in it. Sentence-stress on words following logical stress disappears, Here are some other examples: (a) I didn’t know you were leaving. (I thought it was he who was leaving.) (b) What did Tony say to Sally? He spoke to me.(not to Sally) (c) I can’t do the job. (Don’t think I can’t do it) (d) I don’t know if you mean to see Peter. But if you see him, (please give him my good wishes). (e) (I know she has been working very hard.) But what does she work for? Some form words are stressed in certain special cases: 1) Auxiliary and modal verbs, as well as the link verb to be, are stressed in the following cases: (1) At the beginning of a sentence, that is to say, in general and alternative questions, e.g. 'Are you on 'duty today? 'Have you 'finished your homework? 'Do you 'like swimming or 'skating? Note that in the examples above, the initial auxiliary or modal verbs or verb to be may be unstressed, but this may make the questions sound casual. (2) When they are final, used as short answers to general questions, e.g. 'Have you 'read the book? 'Yes, I 'have. 'Are you on 'duty today? 'Yes, I 'am. However, they are not stressed when used as answers to special questions, e.g. 'Who is on 'duty today? 'I am. 'Who has a 'rubber? 'Tom has. (3) In contracted negative forms, e.g. He 'won’t be 'late. It 'doesn’t matter. (4) Verb “to be” is stressed when final and preceded by the subject which is unstressed, e.g. 'Here you are. I 'don’t 'know where she 'was (5) The auxiliary verb “to be ” is stressed in emphatic constructions, e.g. 'Do come again. He 'did 'write to me. (6) Modal verbs “ought to”, “must” (repressing strong certainty and expectation), “should” (meaning ought to) and “may” (indicating possibility) are always, e.g. You 'ought to 'do it 'now
He 'must be a ' teacher It 'should be 'fine tomorrow It'may be fine tomorrow (7)"Will"and"would "expressing determination or desire al ways receive sentence-stress, e.g Of'course. we 'will do our 'work well I will work hard 2)Prepositions are usually stressed in the following cases (1)If they consist of two or more syllables and are followed by an unstressed perso pronoun at the end of a sense-group, e.g The ' dog ran'after him Tell me a'bout it ote Prepositions consisting of one syllable in this position are usually unstressed. They may ave either strong forms or weak forms e.g. 'Here is a 'letter for you. /f: /or /fa/ (2)If they are at the beginning of the sentence or after verb "to be"and followed by unstressed syllable, they may be stressed, e.g 'In the countryside, he ' made 'many 'friends It's'in mypencil-box 3)Conjunctions are usually stressed if they stand at the beginning of a sentence and are followed by an unstressed word, e.g If he comes, please 'ring me up When I got there, there was ' no one 'in Some content words are not stressed in certain cases. The most important of them are as follows. 1)A word that has just been used is not stressed, as it is a known message, e.g How many times? Three times Soon the 'man was joined by a nother man There s mr. smith and Miss smith 2)The word"street"in manes of streets is never stressed, e.g Wall street Fleet Street 3)In exclamatory sentences such words as"what,,"how"etc, are usually not stressed in order to give emphasis to the adjectives (or adverbs), e.g What a 'good 'comrade What lovely'weathe How ' hard they Note, however, that"what"in sentence (1)may be stressed for rhythmical reason as it is followed by an unstressed syllable(i.e a 4)The word "so"is not stressed if it replaces a noun or a noun clause and is used as the object of a erb, e.g. I think so I he but Let it be so 5)The word"most "is not stressed when it means"very"or"extremely"except for special
He 'must be a 'teacher. It 'should be 'fine tomorrow. It 'may be 'fine tomorrow. (7) “Will” and “would” expressing determination or desire always receive sentence-stress, e.g. Of 'course, we 'will do our 'work 'well. I ′will work ′hard. 2) Prepositions are usually stressed in the following cases: (1) If they consist of two or more syllables and are followed by an unstressed personal pronoun at the end of a sense-group, e.g. The 'dog ran 'after him. ′Tell me a'bout it. Note .Prepositions consisting of one syllable in this position are usually unstressed. They may have either strong forms or weak forms. e.g. ′Here is a 'letter for you. /fɔ:/ or /fә/ (2)If they are at the beginning of the sentence or after verb “to be” and followed by an unstressed syllable, they may be stressed, e.g. ′In the countryside, he ′made ′many 'friends. It’s′in my 'pencil-box. 3) Conjunctions are usually stressed if they stand at the beginning of a sentence and are followed by an unstressed word, e.g. ′If he comes, please ′ring me ′up. ′When I got there, there was ′no one ′in. Some content words are not stressed in certain cases. The most important of them are as follows: 1) A word that has just been used is not stressed, as it is a known message, e.g. ′How many ′times? ′Three times. Soon the ′man was ′joined by a′nother man. ′There’s Mr. Smith and ′Miss Smith. 2) The word “street” in manes of streets is never stressed, e.g. ′Wall Street ′Fleet Street 3) In exclamatory sentences such words as “what”, “how” etc, are usually not stressed in order to give emphasis to the adjectives (or adverbs), e.g. What a ′good ′comrade! What ′lovely ′weather! How ′hard they are ′working! Note, however, that “what” in sentence (1) may be stressed for rhythmical reason as it is followed by an unstressed syllable (i.e. a). 4) The word “so” is not stressed if it replaces a noun or a noun clause and is used as the object of a verb, e.g. I ′think so. I ′hope so. but: ′Let it be ′so. 5) The word “most” is not stressed when it means “very” or “extremely” except for special
"More"and"most forming comparatives and superlatives are often stressed, and the stress on the e.g. This 'exercise is 'more difficult than that one It is the 'most interesting book i' ve 'ever 'read Very frequently, however, the adjective takes strong stress, and "more"and"most"are completely unstressed, e.g This 'exercise is more 'difficult than 'that one It is the most 'interesting ' book I've 'ever ' read 6)Demonstrative pronouns "this","that', having the meaning of "it "and"the", is not stressed He'll never for get that day when he joined the ' Party. that=the) When did you 'read this?(this=it 7)Demonstrative pronoun"this"in"this morning"(afternoon, veening) is not stressed He arrived this 'morning Shall we 'have a 'meeting this afternoon? 8)Adverb"enough" proceeded by an adjective or another adverb is not stressed, e.g The book is 'easy enough for us to read He 'ran'fast enough 9) Adverbs of degree followed by strongly stressed words often lose their stress, e.g It's rather too 'late It's much 'better than I expected She is a little 'better today It's only just ' midnight
emphasis, e.g. It is a most ′interesting ′book. “More” and “most” forming comparatives and superlatives are often stressed, and the stress on the adjective may be weakened, e.g. This ′exercise is ′more difficult than ′that one. It is the ′most interesting ′book I’ve ′ever ′read. Very frequently, however, the adjective takes strong stress, and “more” and “most” are completely unstressed, e.g. This ′exercise is more ′difficult than ′that one. It is the most ′interesting ′book I’ve ′ever ′read. 6) Demonstrative pronouns “this”, “that”, having the meaning of “it” and “the”, is not stressed: He’ll ′never for′get that ′day when he ′joined the ′Party.(that=the) ′When did you ′read this? (this=it) 7) Demonstrative pronoun “this” in “ this morning” (afternoon, veening) is not stressed: He ar′rived this ′morning. Shall we ′have a ′meeting this afternoon? 8) Adverb “enough” proceeded by an adjective or another adverb is not stressed, e.g. The ′book is ′easy enough for us to ′read. He ′ran ′fast enough. 9) Adverbs of degree followed by strongly stressed words often lose their stress, e.g. It’s rather too ′late. It’s much ′better than I expected. She is a little ′better today. It’s only just ′midinight
