Lesson 30. Single or Return?
Stress in Two-Syllable Words
Lesson 30; Part A
In a two-syllable word, one syllable is stronger than the other. Thisis the stressed syllable. In the word answer the first syllable isstressed. (We also say: "The stress is on the first syllable.") Listen. answer | |
In the word again the second syllable is stressed. (The stress is on the second syllable.) Listen. again | |
Two-syllable words often have stress on the first syllable, and thevowel sound in the unstressed syllable is often the weak sound /∂/.Listen and repeat. brother butter father finger finish glasses listen mother number second sister water woman | |
Sometimes there's no vowel sound in the unstressed syllable. Listenand repeat. apple people simple table travel | |
Some two-syllable words are stressed on the second syllable. Listen and repeat. agree alone arrive asleep awake because begin behind complete decide exam explain express perhaps pronounce repeat return |
Lesson 30; Part B
We can show stressed syllables like this O, and unstressed syllableslike this o. So words like answer, brother, butter look like this Oo,and words like again, because, decide look like this oO. Dictionaries usually show stress with this sign ' in front of the stressed syllable. answer /'a:ns∂/ again /∂'gen/ |
Exercises
| Lesson 29 Lesson 30 Lesson 31 | |