The following paragraph has many words ending in “s.” This is a sound
that many nonnative speakers fail to pronounce clearly. After you stretch the
final vowel in each thought group, remember to also add the final “s” sounds at
the ends of the phrases.
Read the paragraph three times. Remember to exaggerate your stretching.
When vacatione—rs
snap photo—s
for their scrapboo—ks,
they don’t usually worry about lense—s,
flashe—s,
or even the people’s pose—s.
They just “point and cli—ck.”
This sty—le
produces photo—s
that are grea—t
for uploadi—ng
to social networking si—tes,
but without tripo—ds,
special lense—s
and an eye for bala—nce,
these photo—s
will definitely not become screen save—rs.
Your family’s pose—s
in Times Squa—re
probably look just li—ke
your friends’ photo—s.
Professional photographe—rs
always look for sce—nes
and pose—s
that are uni—que.
When professiona—ls
shoot a photo—,
they pay attentio—n
to the li—ght,
bala—nce,
and messa—ge
that the image gi—ves.
With advances in camera—s,
everyday photographe—rs
can improve their image—s,
but technology alo—ne
will not turn the hobbyi—sts
into professiona—ls.
To make that ju—mp,
amateu—rs
need lesso—ns,
not better camera—s.
Read each word and stretch the final vowel sound. Record yourself and
listen to your recording. Can you clearly hear the stretching? If not, practice
and record yourself again.
resea—rch
go—
sou—rce
ca—n
fu—nds
wi—th
pla—ns
openi—ng
go—es
fo—r
pla—ce
tea—m
Read each sentence and stretch the final vowel sound.
We got the fu—nd
Where she we—nt
What do you crea—te?
What’s the plan of atta—ck?
I’ll be ba—ck
I just reali—zed.
Learn the basi—cs.
Take i—t.
Just a—sk.
It was the best advertiseme—nt
They built an a—pp.
It's in the ba—g.
Look at these self-introductions and mark the thought groups with a
slash (/). Read each introduction twice. Practice pausing and stretching the
ends of each thought group.
My name is Keiko Tanaka. I am a marketing specialist at Go-Go Social. I'm a
Bay Area native, but I did live in London for 10 years after college. I enjoy
cycling and reading about science.
My name is Maggie Lim. I am a software engineer at a company in Sunnyvale. I
speak Chinese, Japanese, and English. I grew up in Singapore, but now I live in
Palo Alto. I don't have any hobbies because I seem to be always working.
My name is Mike Stewart. I am a restaurant blogger. I grew up in Iowa and now
live in San Francisco. As you can imagine, I love food. I love eating it,
cooking it, and talking about it.
Read this story aloud and focus on stretching the sounds at the end of each thought group. Since there are no dashes (—), you will have to decide which sounds to stretch on your own. Many of these words end in d, so remember to stretch the sound before the d. (Some of these thought groups are longer than the thought groups in your previous practice.) Remember to exaggerate your stretching.
Enid was an engineer
noted for her research
in computer network security systems.
Although she often analyzed
complicated attacks on computers,
the security system for her house
baffled her.
When she first installed
her own alarm system,
she avoided turning it on
because it beeped
at regular intervals
and bothered her.
She believed
that a system wasn’t needed
for her house.
She felt that her neighborhood
was safe.
But after hearing that a thief
had climbed through a neighbor’s back window
and robbed him of $500,
she finally asked a technician
for help.
An alarm system rep
visited her house
and realized that Enid had bought
such a complicated system
that it was nearly impossible
to use every day.
He changed some settings
and customized her system
so that it could be controlled
from her computer.
She cheered at that news
because she felt more comfortable
using her computer
than the control box
that had been installed
in her home.
After the tech fixed it,
she thanked him
and offered to give him
a free security upgrade
for his computer.
He declined
because he claimed
he didn’t need computer security.
She was astonished
but understood.
She used to think that same thing about her home security!
Read the following phrases and connect all the underlined sounds. Read each one three times.
trust is earned
try out
help desk
research and development
big game
look old
knew of him
save energy
last year
tow away
end to end
not yet
lay over
competitive environment
demand growth
unique approach
new infrastructure
sit down
PRACTICE
Read the following sentences and try to connect all of the word endings to the beginning of the next word. (Tip: Keep your voice strong as you move from one word to the next.) Read each one three times.
The company had to change the way it did business.
The company opted to deploy a new infrastructure.
Because customers don’t have to pay an annual fee, membership is way up.
Although he knew it was illegal, he occasionally parked in a tow away zone.
They had a powwow to see if they could finally agree on a new advisor.
PRACTICE
Finish these sentences and connect the sounds as you speak. Repeat each sentence three times.
We had to...
Itës important that we...
They wanted us to...
Is there any way that you could...
Would it be possible to...
The problem...
He said that...
Please...
I think...
I don't think...
Read these sentences. Pauses have been added. Practice connecting the words between each pause.
Last year, we went to Niagara Falls on our summer vacation.
This unique approach is one that we’ve never seen.
If you park your car in a tow away zone you’re sure to get a ticket.
Sometimes, calling the help desk isn’t helpful at all.
It’s not healthy to sit at your desk all day.
PRACTICE
Read the following speech twice. Practice connecting the words in each thought group.
What is your future?/ Will you spend your life/ working for someone else?/ Or,//
are you brave enough/ to start your own business?//
Starting your own business/ requires courage,/ perseverance,/ and optimism.//
Do you have/ what it takes?//
First,/ you need courage./ Without courage, / you will fail.//
Forget what your friends are doing/ in their high-paid jobs/ Forget that your parents told you/ to find a stable job./ To start your own business,/
you must be strong,/ you must be fearless,/ and you must be brave.//
You need courage.//
Second,/ you must have perseverance.//
When you start your business,/ you will have problems./ You will face challenges./ You will want to quit./
Don’t!//
To be successful,/ you must persevere.//
Finally,/ you must be optimistic.//
Don’t think about failure./ Instead,/ focus on success.//
When you make mistakes,/ learn from them./ When something you try doesn’t work,/ think about how you can fix it,/ then move on.//
Optimists find opportunities.//
So,/ do you have it?//
Are you courageous?//
Will you persevere?//
Can you remain optimistic/ in the face of adversity?//
Review the pausing rules you studied in Lesson 1. Add connections to the words between the pauses (within the thought groups). Practice each sentence three times.
You can join us / on Friday / if you want.
You can join us on Friday / if you want.
If you don’t back up your computer, / you may find yourself / in a terrible situation.
If you don’t back up your computer, / you may find yourself
in a terrible situation.
They said the meeting / is rescheduled / for Monday.
They said the meeting / is rescheduled for Monday.
They said the meeting is rescheduled / for Monday.
Francis thought / her invention / would change the world.
Francis thought / her invention would change the world.
Francis thought her invention / would change the world.
The warning signal / is a blinking light / on the dashboard.
The warning signal / is a blinking light on the dashboard.
The warning signal is a blinking light / on the dashboard.
Read the following sentences and practice stretching the sounds before the dashes (—). At the same time, connect the sounds that are underlined. Read each sentence three times.
Silicon Valley— / is in the southern pa—rt/ of the San Francisco Bay Area—/ in Northern California—/.
The term originally refe—rred/ to the region’s large numbe—r/ of silicon chip innovato—rs/ and manufacture—rs/, but eventually came to refe—r/ to all the high-tech businesse—s/ in the area—/.
Despite the developme—nt/ of other high-tech economic cente—rs/ throughout the United Sta—tes/, Silicon Valley—/ continues to be—/ the leading high-tech cente—r/ because of its large numbe—r/ of enginee—rs/ and venture capitali—sts/.
PRACTICE
The sentences have been copied below without the visual clues for stretching and connecting. Try to add stretching and connecting naturally. Record yourself and listen to the recording. Can you clearly hear the rhythm of English in your voice?
Silicon Valley is in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. The term originally referred to the region’s large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all the high-tech businesses in the area. Despite the development of other high-tech economic centers throughout the United States, Silicon Valley continues to be the leading high-tech center because of its large number of engineers and venture capitalists.
When you add stretching and connecting to your speech, your speech should feel smooth. Your voice should flow gently like a wave. It should feel like you are lengthening your voice, and you should sound very calm when you are speaking.
Read the speech below from Lesson 2. As you read it, make sure you stretch the vowels at the end of each thought group. At the same time, practice connecting the words inside the thought groups. Read it two times.
When vacationers snap photos for their scrapbooks, they don’t usually worry about lenses, flashes, or even the people’s poses. They just “point and click.” This style produces photos that are great for uploading to social networking sites, but without tripods, special lenses and an eye for balance, these photos will definitely not become screen savers. Your family’s poses in Times Square probably look just like your friends’ photos. Professional photographers always look for scenes and poses that are unique. When professionals shoot a photo, they pay attention to the light, balance, and message that the image gives. With advances in cameras, everyday photographers can improve their images, but technology alone will not turn the hobbyists into professionals. To make that jump, amateurs need lessons, not better cameras.
Word stress is a term that describes the extra stress or power that gets placed on a single word in a sentence. (This is sometimes called “sentence stress.”) Just like pausing and stretching, stress is one aspect of English.
HOW DO I PUT STRESS ON A WORD?
Stressed words are a little longer (stretched), a little higher and a little louder
than the other words in a sentence.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH WORDS TO STRESS?
Simply put, you should stress the important key words of a sentence. Usually, this means the words that give new information. In the following example, the stressed words are in bold: The table is in the middle of theroom.
Enid was an engineer noted for her research
in computer network security systems.
Although she often analyzed complicated attacks
on computers,
the security system
for her house baffled her.
When she first installed
her own alarm system,
she avoided
turning it on
because it beeped
at regular intervals
and bothered her.
She believed
that a system
wasn’t needed
for her house.
She felt her neighborhood
was safe.
Did you notice that every thought group had at least one stressed word?
A compound noun is a noun made up of two or more words. The first word of a compound noun is usually stressed: greenhouse (a glass building where plants grow)
When you use an adjective and a noun that do not form a compound noun, the noun is stressed: green house (a house that is green)
Stress the first word of these compound nouns:
office system project manager business person business strategy sales call mailing list account balance White House
conference call product manager business community marketing strategy sales team flash drive board meeting security system
PRACTICE
A compound noun can also be one word that is made up of two individual nouns. Put the stress on the first part of the word.
Read these two paragraphs aloud and stress the words that are in bold. Record yourself and listen to your recording to see if you can hear the stressed words clearly.
Paragraph 1 Most of today’s customer service is done on the telephone or the Web. Companies use operators, touch-tone automated service, and call-centers to meet the customers’ needs in an attempt to save money. Similarly, a lot of companies encourage customers to go online to have their questions and issues answered via chat, FAQ, virtual agent, or email. However, even though these are cost-effective measures, customers often miss the old-fashioned method of face-to-face service.
Paragraph 2
Most of today’s customer service is done on the telephone or the Web. Companies use operators, touch-tone automated service, and call-centers to meet the customers’ needs in an attempt to save money. Similarly, a lot of companies encourage customers to go online to have their questions and issues answered via chat, FAQ, virtual agent, or email. However, even though these are cost-effective measures, customers often miss the old-fashioned method of face-to-face service.
PRACTICE
Which paragraph makes it sound like the new ways of providing customer service are good?
Which paragraph makes it sound like the new ways of providing customer service are NOT good?
Poets and song writers often use the rhythm of English in their work. We do not always speak this way, but practicing the rhythm of poetry and music can help you feel the rhythm of English.
Read these poems and stress the bold words.
Bob the Developer:
There once was a developer named Bob, who couldn’t find joy in his job.
He wanted to quit, but he couldn’t admit that he did love to hear himself sob.
An office poem:
The lights are not on - not a soul to be found. The boss must be gone 'cause no one’s around.
Read this paragraph and practice stressing the larger words. Read the small words quietly.
When vacationers snap photos for their scrapbooks, they don’t usually worry about lenses, flashes, or even the people’s poses. They just “point and click.” This style produces photos that are great for uploading to social networking sites, but without tripods, special lenses and an eye for balance, these photos will definitely not become screen savers. Your family’s poses in Times Square probably look just like your friends’ photos. Professional photographers always look for scenes and poses that are unique. When professionals shoot a photo, they pay attention to the light, balance, and message that the image gives. With advances in cameras, everyday photographers can improve their images, but technology alone will not turn the hobbyists into professionals. To make that jump, amateurs need lessons, not better cameras.
In this final exercise for word stress, you can quiz yourself on what you have learned in Lesson 4. First, read the sentences and choose the words that should be stressed. Next, listen to the audio and listen to which words the speaker stresses.
QUIZ
Choose the words in each sentence that should be stressed. Read the sentence and add extra stress on those words.
How have you been?
I couldn't agree more.
I agree with you 100 percent.
His speech was fabulous.
It’s not the way that he looks, but the way that he talks that’s impressive.
Intonation is the rising and falling of the pitch of your voice. It is part of the
rhythm of English.
It helps to think of intonation like the notes on a musical scale. Just as notes can go up and down, you can use intonation to make your voice go up and down. You can also think of intonation as steps going up or down or as a wave that moves up and down like the ocean. Just remember that when you speak English, your voice should not be flat. It should be moving.
WHERE DO I ADD INTONATION IN MY SPEECH?
Intonation follows the patterns of word stress. When you stress a word, you should also raise the pitch of your voice. The stronger you stress a word, the higher your pitch should be.
Practice adding intonation to your voice while reading this dialog between a receptionist and a visitor. Try to match the intonation in the recording with your voice as you read.
Receptionist:
How can I help you?
Visitor:
I'm here to see Tom Holtz.
Receptionist:
Do you have an appointment with him?
Visitor:
Yes. At 3:30. I'm a little early.
Receptionist:
OK. I'll let him know that you're here. Could you please sign in?
Visitor: .
Sure.
Receptionist:
If you'd like something to drink, we've got coffee and tea over there.
Visitor:
Thanks. Do you have water?
Receptionist:
Of course, there's a water dispenser next to the coffee.
Yes/No Questions: a) Questions that ask for a yes or no answer require a strong rising intonation on the stressed words and on the final word of the sentence. b) When you want to ask a quick question or one that isn't very important, make the rising intonation flatter.
1-a)
Do you take the train to work?
1-b)
Do you take the train to work?
Do you like your commute?
Do you like your commute?
2.
Tag Questions: a) To confirm a statement, raise your intonation on the stressed word and then let it fall. Then, raise your intonation again on the question tag. b) Falling intonation on the tag implies that you think you know the answer and you want the listener to agree with you.
2-a)
You take the train to work, right?
2-b)
You take the train to work, don't you?
It's really nice outside, isn't it?
It’s really nice outside, isn’t it?
3.
Information Questions: a) Questions that ask for information require a rising and falling intonation on the stressed word at the end of the question. b) If the stressed word is not the last word of the sentence, then the intonation rises on the stressed word and then falls on the final word(s).
3-a)
How long is your commute?
3-b)
How long does it take you to get to work every day?
What is your name?
What’s your last name?
4.
Questions with a Choice: a) Questions that ask you to make a choice have rising intonation on the first choice and falling intonation on the second choice.
b) If the question has more than two choices, the intonation rises on all the choices except the final one. The final choice has falling intonation.
c) The intonation rises on all choices if the speaker wants to indicate that there may be more choices or that the listener does not have to make a choice at all.
4-a)
Do you want coffee or tea?
4-b)
Do you want coffee, tea, or soda?
4-c)
Do you want coffee or tea? (You don’t have to choose either one.)
5.
Statements into Questions You can turn a statement into a question by adding rising intonation on the stressed words at the end of the sentence. This can be used to show surprise.
General Statements a) Just like on informational questions, statements require a rising and falling pitch on the final stressed word of each phrase. b) If the stressed word is not the last word, then the pitch rises on the stressed word and falls on the final word of the sentence.
1-a)
I need to call him tomorrow.
1-b)
Sorry to interrupt you.
I need to call him tomorrow at the latest.
Let me talk to him.
2.
Series a) Statements that list a series of words have a rising pitch on each word in the series and falling pitch on the final word.
b) In a list that is not finished (an “open” series), the pitch rises on every item in the series. (This indicates there are more options.)
2-a)
We’re meeting the CEO, CFO and the COO.
2-b)
My hobbies are running, surfing, skiing...
I called, faxed, and emailed him.
We need to talk to James, Beth, Paul...
3.
Introductory Words and Phrases
a) If you begin your sentence with introductory words, the pitch should rise and fall on the introductory words.
b) The introductory words can also have a rise-fall-rise pitch pattern.
3-a)
Actually, I’m not going.
3-b)
Actually, I’m not going.
On the other hand, it’s expensive.
On the other hand, it’s expensive.
4.
Additional Information If you add additional information into the middle of your sentence, you need to show that it is not part of the main sentence. You do this by flattening the intonation, saying the information quickly, and adding a pause at the beginning and end of the extra phrase.
4)
The president, / I think he went
to your university, / will be there.
5.
Sarcasm You can say the opposite of what you mean by stretching the word that is not true, and by using stretched rising and falling intonation. Keep the rest of the sentence flat.
5)
I just l o v e having my performance review.
(You don't really love it.)
He has the f r i e n d l i e s t personality.
(He is not friendly.)
A syllable is made up of one vowel sound. A syllable can also contain consonants, but it does not have to. For example, service has two syllables (ser-vice) because it has two vowel sounds (e, i). The final e is silent.
Some people like to think of a syllable as a beat of music. You can feel the “beat” by clapping your hands to the syllables. If you say the word service, you would clap once on ser and once on vice.
WHAT IS SYLLABLE STRESS?
Syllable stress is the emphasis we place on one syllable in a word. We create stress by making the syllable a little louder, longer, and higher-pitched. One way to feel the stress on a syllable is to take a rubber band and pull it apart when you are stressing the sound.
You know that the word service has two syllables. Which syllable is stressed? The first syllable contains the stress: SER-vice.
In Lesson 4, you learned how to add stress to the keywords in a sentence. In this chapter, you will practice adding stress to the syllables inside words. Every word that has two or more syllables has one syllable that is stressed more than the others. This phrase is written with different sized letters to show you how to stress words and syllables. The bigger the letter, the more stress it has:
When vaCAtioners snap PHOtos for their SCRAPbooks
Read this paragraph and stress according to the size of the letters. The larger the letters, the more stress you should add. Hold a rubber band as you read the paragraph. Stretch the rubber band whenever you add stress.
When vaCAtioners snap PHOtos for their SCRAPbooks, they don’t USually WOrry about LENses, FLAshes, or Even the PEOple’s POSes. They just “point and click.” This STYle proDUces PHOtos that are GREAT for UPloading to SOcial NETworking sites, but withOUTTRIpods, SPEcial LENses and an eye for BALance, these PHOtos will DEfinitely NOT beCOMESCREENSAvers. Your FAmily’s POses in TImes SQUAREPRObably look just like your FRIENDS’PHOtos. ProFESsional phoTOgraphers ALways look for SCENES and POses that are uNIque. When proFESsionals shoot a PHOto, they pay atTENtion to the LIGHT, BAlance, and MESsage that the Image GIVES. With adVANces in CAMeras, EVeryday phoTOgraphers can imPROVE their Images, but techNOlogy aLONE will not turn the HOBbyists into proFESsionals. To make THAT jump, Amateurs need LESsons, not better CAMeras.
Read through the list of rules and practice stressing the correct syllables. These are rules that you can generally apply to English words. Just remember, all English rules have exceptions!
Stress on 1st Syllable
Two-Syllable Nouns: ACcess / ADdress
Two-Syllable Adjectives: GORgeous / HAPpy
Two-Syllable Adverbs: PRETty / QUICKly / BADly
Nouns made of two words: PASSword / WHITEboard / HANDshake
Stress on 2nd Syllable
Two-Syllable Verbs: apPLY / sugGEST
Verbs made of two words: underSTAND / overFLOW
Two-word adjectives: member-OWNED / long-TERM (stressed on the second word)
Prefixes (a-, un-, be-, in-, pro-, ex-, ob-, dis-, re-) are usually not stressed.
The word they attach to keeps its original stress pattern even when a prefix is attached.
DO→ unDO
ACtivate → reACtivate
PROVE → imPROVE
Suffixes sometimes change the stress of a word. (-s, -ed, -ing, -ish, -ly, -ee, -ic).
Do you remember the du-du-DA rhythm that you learned in Lesson 4? We can think of syllables in the same way. The du is an unstressed syllable, and the DA is a stressed syllable.
Match the following words to the correct stress pattern below:application, analyst, authority, commission, community, confusion, dangerous, demonstration, disclosure, excellent, facility, graduation, hospital, material, motivation, philosophy, photographic, potential, practical, tradition
The following list shows the difference in syllable stress between certain nouns and verbs that have the same spelling. Read each word three times, stressing the correct syllable, and then say a full sentence using that word.
American English speakers often stress the first syllable of the following words.
However, stressing the second syllable of some of these words is also acceptable, as shown below.
About MyOvient
Contact Us
LISTEN
PRACTICE
