(Here’s an Audiovisual Lecture on Word Stress in English: https://youtu.be/1tRmV0CtxiU)
Word stress constitutes an important section in the English test of orals in WASSCE, NECO/SSCE and other senior school certificate examinations. This shows the importance of stress in English speech. For example, stress is used to communicate meaning clearly in English speech. Example: FRE-quent (Adjective: occurring many times at short intervals); and fre-QUENT (Verb: visit a place often). It’s the same word “frequent,” but stress is used to make the meaning clear and precise in each case. When we use the word as an adjective, we stress the first syllable (FRE-quent); when we use the same word as a verb, we stress the second syllable (fre-QUENT). In this way, it enables us to say what we want to say quite clearly. When stress is wrongly placed, it makes us mispronounce words, which affects the meaning we intend and cause misunderstanding. In this lecture, you’ll learn the rules that govern word stress and how to answer questions correctly on it in your English exams.
There are certain rules that govern how stress can be placed on English words. As an ESL learner, you need to learn these rules in order to improve your English pronunciation. However, let’s first examine briefly some important factors to consider when placing stress on English words.
1. WORD CLASS (PART OF SPEECH): Word class affects the way a word is stressed in English. For example, the word project is stressed on the first syllable when it is used as a noun, but it is stressed on the second syllable when used as a verb: PRO-ject (noun), pro-JECT (verb). This is an indication that most two-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable, whereas most two-syllable verbs are stressed on the second syllable.
2. SYLLABLES: A syllable is the part of a word that can be pronounced in one breath. In other words, a syllable is a unit of pronunciation: English words are classified according to the number of syllables they contain, namely: Monosyllabic words (words of one syllable), Bi-syllabic words (words of two syllables), and Polysyllabic words (words of three or more syllables). Moreover, syllables are described as strong or weak, depending on the quality of the vowel sound they contain. All these affect the way words are stressed in English.
3. AFFIXES: PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES: The prefix is a letter or letters added to the beginning of a word to form a new word. The suffix is a letter or letters added to the end of a word to form a new word. Prefixes are usually unstressed except in certain cases of shifting stress. Suffixes determine stress in polysyllabic words.
Now, let’s examine some of the rules that govern stress placement in English words.
Rule 1. If a two-syllable word is used as a noun and also as a verb, stress the first syllable when it is a noun, and stress the second syllable when it is a verb: PRO-ject/pro-JECT, EX-port/ex-PORT, IM-port/im-PORT, etc.
Rule 2. If a two-syllable word is used as a noun and also as an adjective, stress the first syllable when it is a noun, and stress the second syllable when it is an adjective: AU-gust/au-GUST, A-dult/a-DULT, etc.
Rule 3. If a two-syllable word is used as an adjective and also as a verb, stress the first syllable when it is an adjective, and stress the second syllable when it is a verb: PRE-sent/pre-SENT, AB-sent/ab-SENT, FRE-quent/fre-QUENT, etc.
Rule 4. Most two-syllable nouns and adjectives are stressed on the first syllable, BUT most two-syllable verbs are stressed on the second syllable: Nouns: WIN-dow, MON-day, HOS-tel, etc. Adjectives: GEN-tle, EA-easy, RIGH-teous, PRO-per, etc. Verbs: pro-DUCE, re-PORT, nar-RATE, trans-FER, dic-TATE, de-NOUNCE, re-JECT, etc.
Rule 5. If a two-syllable word begins with a prefix, stress the second syllable: dis-TURB, un-FAIR, un-KNOWN, re-TURN, re-WIRE, re-MAKE, en-JOY, im-POUND, ob-SERVE, de-SIST, a-BOUT, ex-PAND, con-FORM, bet-WEEN, in-VITE, etc.
NOTE: This rule applies more to verbs, adverbs, and prepositions. The prefix is stressed for a noun that can also be used as a verb. Examples: EX-port, IM-port, CON-vict, OB-ject, EX-pense, AB-scess, etc
Rule 6. For words that end in the following suffixes, they almost always take stress on the second syllable from the end::–ion, -ic, -ial, -ian, -ien, -ious, -tant
Examples:
communi-CA-tion, super-VI-sion, demar-CA-tion, a-TO-mic, dra-MA-tic, stra-TE-gic,
demo-CRA-tic, eco-NO-mic, co-LO-nial, pro-VER-bial, tu-TO-rial, ci-VI-lian, co-ME-
dian, mu-CI-cian, su-FFI-cient, de-FI-cient, in-GRE-dient, con-TEN-tious, RIGH-teous,
im-POR-tant, po-LLU-tant, etc.
Note: Break the word into syllables, and then count from the end:
4 3 2 1
de-mo-cra-tic = de-mo-CRA-tic
There are many other rules that govern stress placement in English words. For a more detailed audiovisual explanation of word stress, the factors that determine stress placement, and the various rules of stress in English words, watch the following video lectures:
For other important topics in various aspects of English writing and speaking skills, check out these eBooks:
- Good Success in English: A Study Package or Good Success in English: A Study Package for Effective English Learning
- Good Success English Handbook
About the Author
LBenjamin Abugu is a university graduate with a flair for content writing. He is an English teacher with over twelve years of experience, a published author of many books (both paperback and eBook editions), a blogger, and a Youtuber.
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