a Table of Contents

I. Syllables.................................................................................................................2
II. Stress.....................................................................................................................2
1 .Definition...........................................................................................................2
2. Importance..........................................................................................................3
III. Stress rules...........................................................................................................3
1. Two-Syllable nouns and adjectives....................................................................3
2. Two-Syllable verbs and prepositions.................................................................4
3. Proper nouns.......................................................................................................5
4. Words ending in “er”, “ly”.................................................................................6
5. Words ending in consonants and in y................................................................6
6. Words with various endings...............................................................................7
7. Words ending in ade, ee, ese, que, ette, oon.......................................................8
8. Stress on the second from the end syllable........................................................9
9. Stress on the third from end syllable..................................................................9
IV. Exercises............................................................................................................10
Exercise 1:.........................................................................................................10
Exercise 2:.........................................................................................................10
V. Answer key.........................................................................................................13
Exercise 1:.........................................................................................................13
Exercise 2:.........................................................................................................14
VI. Practice..............................................................................................................14
Exercise 1:.........................................................................................................14
Exercise 2:.........................................................................................................17

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I. Syllables
A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds. It is
typically made up of a syllable nucleus (most often a vowel) with optional initial
and final margins (typically, consonants). Syllables are often considered the
phonological "building blocks" of words. They can influence the rhythm of a
language, its prosody, its poetic metre and its stress patterns. Speech can usually be
divided up into a whole number of syllables. For example, the word result is
composed of two syllables: re and sult.

II. Stress

1 .Definition
Stress or accent is relative emphasis or prominence given to a certain
syllable in a word, or to a certain word in a phrase or sentence. That emphasis is
typically caused by such properties as increased loudness and vowel length, full
articulation of the vowel, and changes in pitch. The terms stress and accent are
often used synonymously in that context but are sometimes distinguished.

Since stress can be realised through a wide range of phonetic properties,

such as loudness, vowel length, and pitch, which are also used for other linguistic
functions, it is difficult to define stress solely phonetically.

The stress placed on syllables within words is called word stress or lexical
stress, some languages have fixed stress.

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2. Importance
- Mistakes in word stress are a common cause of misunderstanding in English.
Stressing the wrong syllable in a word can make the word very difficult to
hear and understand, even if the speaker can be understood, mistakes with
word stress can make the listener feel irritated, or perhaps even amused, and
could prevent good communication from taking place.

- Stress plays a very important role in creating the intonation of the sentence.
When emphasizing stress, each word and the whole sentence will have a
certain level of up and down, making attachment to create flexibility. Not
only makes the sentence more attractive, more natural but also expresses
emotions very well and brings high communication efficiency.

- Using stress in communication will help you feel more confident. Because
of the stress, the words you pronounce are all correct and can convey to the
listener; communication fluency.

III. Stress rules

1. Two-Syllable nouns and adjectives

In most two syllable nouns and adjectives, the first syllable takes on the
stress.

- Examples:

‘Samples

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‘Carton

‘Purple

‘Rainy

‘China

‘Happy

2. Two-Syllable verbs and prepositions

In most two syllable verbs and prepositions, the stress is on the second
syllable.

-Examples:

Re’lax

Re’ceive

Di’rect

A’mong

A’side

De’cide

More about word stress on two-syllable words:

 About 80% of two-syllable words get their stress on the first syllable.

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  There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, but very few nouns and
adjectives get stress on their second syllable.

 Verbs and prepositions usually get stress placed on the second syllable, but
there are exceptions to this too.

Note: There are many two-syllable words in English that can be pronounced
in two different ways. The stress change also changes the part of speech of the
word.

- Examples:

‘Present = a gift (noun); non past or future (adjective)

Pre’sent = to give something to someone (verb)

‘Object = something you can see and touch (noun)

Ob’ject = to disagree with something (verb)

3. Proper nouns
Proper nouns are specific names of people, places or things. For example:
Jeniffer, Spain, Google.

The second word is always the one that takes the stress

- Examples:

North DAKOTA

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Mr. SMITH

Apple INCORPORATED

4. Words ending in “er”, “ly”

For three-syllable words ending with the suffixes “er” or “ly”, the stress is
placed on the first syllable.

- Examples:

‘Orderly

‘Silently

‘Lovingly

‘Manager

5. Words ending in consonants and in y

If there is a word that ends in a consonant or in a y, then the first syllable
usually gets the stress.

- Examples:

‘Rarity

‘Optimal

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‘Gradient

6. Words with various endings

Take a good look at the list of suffixes below (suffixes are word endings).

The stress is going to be on the syllable right before the suffix. This applies
to words of all syllable lengths.

- Examples:

able: ‘Addable, ‘Laughable

ial: differ’enttial, ‘social

cian: phy’sician, cli’nician

ery: ‘bakery, ‘scenery

ian: co’median, ci’vilian

ible: re’sistible, im’possible

ic: ar’chaic, pla’tonic, characte’ristic

ics: dia’betics, paedi’atrics, ‘topics

ion: classifi’cation, repo’sition, vege’tation

ia: ‘media, bac’teria, vic’toria

ient: in’gredient, ‘ancient

ious: re’ligious, ‘various

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ish: ‘selfish, ‘english, ‘punish

osis: hyp’nosis, diag’nosis, os’mosis

7. Words ending in ade, ee, ese, que, ette, oon

Words that use the suffix ade, ee, ese, eer, que, ette, or oon have the primary
stress actually placed on the suffix.

This applies to words of all syllable lengths.

- Examples:

ade: lemo’nade, cru’sade, ar’cade

ee: a’gree, jambor’ee, guaran’tee

eer: sight’seer, puppe’teer

ese: Siam’ese, Japan’ese, ch’eese

ette: cass’ette, Corv’ette, towel’ette

que: un’ique, phys’ique

oon: ba’loon, after’noon, car’toon

8. Stress on the second from the end syllable

You put stress on the second syllable from the end of the word with words
ending in ic, sion, and tion.

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-Examples:

‘Graphic

Hyper’tension

Tele’vision

Nu’trition

reve’lation

Note: Native English speakers don't always agree on where to place the
stress on a word. For example, some people pronounce television as "’Television"
while others say "tele’vision."

9. Stress on the third from end syllable

You put stress on the third from end syllable with words that end in cy, ty,
phy, gy and al.

- Examples:

De’mocracy

Ge’ography

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‘Allergy

IV. Exercises

Exercise 1: Indentify the main stressed syllable of the following words and put
them into the correct column.
Density ,overcrowded ,service ,attract ,homeless ,pollution ,imagine ,slavery
,behind ,spacious ,population ,homeless ,economy ,megacity ,poverty ,populated
,criminal ,explosion ,producer ,millionaire ,crowded ,problem ,affect ,hunger
,electrcity

First Second Third

Exercise 2: Find the word with a stress pattern that is different from the
others.
1. a. stimulate b. generate c. secure d. estimate

2. a. politic b. historic c. electric d. specific

3. a. reference b. accident c. coincide d. formulate

4. a. deposit b. dramatist c. register d. community

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5. a. earthquake b. transaction c. applicant d. patriot

6. a. degree b. virtually c. assembly d. synthetic

7. a. coincide b. community c. conception d. committee

8. a. envelop b. astronaut c. tuberculosis d. poverty

9. a. altitude b. recover c. comedy d. library

10. a. demonstrate b. beatify c successful d. comfortable

11. a. accountant b. discover c. messenger d. unlucky

12. a. marathon b. advertise c. industry d. conclusion

13. a. subsequent b. undergo c. government d. enterprise

14. a. chaotic b. proposal c. occupy d. production

15. a. piano b. policeman c. museum d. souvenir

16. a. guarantee b. recommend c. represent d. illustrate

17. a. agency b. memory c. encounter d. influence

18. a. well-being b. reality c. Internet d. demanding

19. a. encourage b. determine c. emphasize d. maintenance

20. a. understand b. grandparents c. family d. wonderful

21. a. essential b. furniture c. opposite d. fortunate

22. a. crocodile b. corridor c. enormous d. northerly

23. a. habitat b. pollution c. construction d. extinction

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24. classify b. biologist c. benefit d. serious

25. a. endangered b. survival c. commercial d. industry

26. a. mosquito b. animal c. crocodile d. buffalo

27. a. unnoticed b. reunited c. incredible d. survival

28. a. imagine b. opinion c. incredible d. wilderness

29. a. ecommend b. thoroughly c. travelling d. fascinate

30. a. character b. publisher c. wonderful d. understand

31. a. dependable b. reliable c. remarkable d. knowledgeable

32. a. detective b. romantic c. history d. adventure

33. a. biography b. historic c. discover d. authorship

34. a. imaginary b. scientific c. advantage d. reviewer

35. a. regulator b. personal c. referee d. dangerous

36. a. procedure b. indicate c. forefinger d. enemy

37. a. opponent b. penalize c. overtime d. synchronized

38. a. windsurfing b. equipment c. amatuer d. national

39. a. position b. fingertip c. athletic d. requirement

40. a. interesting b. surprising c. amusing d. successful

41. a. understand b. engineer c. benefit d. Vietnamese

42. a. applicant b. uniform c. yesterday d. employment

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43. a. dangerous b. parachute c. popular d. magazine

44. a. comfortable b. employment c. important d. surprising

45. a. elegant b. regional c. musical d. important

46. a. difference b. surbaban c. Internet d. character

47. a. beautiful b. effective c. favourite d. popular

48. a. attraction b. goverment c. borrowing d. visitor

49. difficult b. individual c. population d. unemployment

50. a. capital b. tradition c. different d. opera.

V. Answer key

Exercise 1:

First Second Third

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density, homeless, overcrowded, service, population, electricity
slavery, spacious, attract, pollution, imagine,
criminal, hunger behind, explosion, affect

Exercise 2:
1. c 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. b 6. b 7. a 8. c 9. d 10. c
11. c 12. d 13. b 14. c 15. d 16. d 17. c 18. c 19. c 20. c
21. a 22. c 23. a 24. b 25. d 26. a 27. b 28. d 29. a 30. d
31. d 32. c 33. d 34. b 35. c 36. a 37. a 38. b 39. b 40. a
41. c 42. d 43. d 44. a 45. d 46. b 47. b 48. a 49. a 50. b

VI. Practice

Exercise 1: Find the word with a stress pattern that is different from the
others.
1. A. 'generous B . su'spicious C. 'constancy D. 'sympathy

2. A. ac'quaintance B. un'selfish C. at'traction D. 'humorous

3. A. 'loyalty B. suc'cess C. in'capable D. sin'cere

4. A. 'carefully B. cor'rectly C. 'seriously D. 'personally

5. A. ex'cited B. 'interested C. 'confident D. 'memorable

6. A. 'organise B. 'decorate C. di'vorce D. 'promise

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7. A. re'freshment B. 'horrible C. ex'citing D. in'tention

8. A. 'knowledge B. 'maximum C. ath'letics D. 'marathon

9. A. 'difficult B. 'relevant C. volun'teer D. 'interesting

10. A. 'confidence B. sup'portive C. so'lution D. o'bedient

11. A. when'ever B. 'mischievous C. 'hospital D. 'separate

12. A. intro'duce B. 'delegate C. 'marvelous D. 'currency

13. A. de'velop B. con'duction C. 'partnership D. ma'jority

14. A.'government B. 'technical C. 'parallel D. under'stand

15. A.con'struction B. sug'gestion C. 'accurate D. hi-'jacket

16. A. 'dedicate B. im'pressive C. re'minder D. des'cendant

17. A. re'member B. 'company C. 'technical D. 'interview

18. A. a'ttractive B. 'sociable C. dy'namic D. con'servative

19. A. do'mestic B. in'vestment C. sub'stantial D. under'go

20.A.'government B. de'struction C. con'tribute D. de'pression

21. A. 'institute B. con'sumption C. spe'cific D. en'counter

22. A. 'tableland B. ap'parent C. 'atmosphere D. 'applicant

23. A. 'vulnerable B. 'satellite C. e'leven D. 'element

24. A. a'rrival B. 'technical C. pro'posal D. a'pproval

25. A. 'empire B. em'ployer C. con'ductor D. tran'sitor

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26. A. ‘tableland B. ap’parent C. ‘atmosphere D. ‘applicant

27. . ‘vulnerable . ‘satelite C. e’leven D. ‘element

28. A. ar’rival B. ‘technical C. pro’posal D. ap’proval

29. A. ‘empire B. em’ployer C. con’ductor D. tran’sitor

30. A. ‘celebrate B. ‘fascinating C. sur’vive D. ‘elephant

31. A. ‘habitat B. ‘generate C. ca’noe D. ‘penalty

32. A. ex’pression B. de’cisive C. de’pendent D. inde’pendence

33. A. de’cision B. ‘reference C. re’fusal D. im’portant

34. A. coo’perate B. ‘permanent C. ‘recognise D. ‘industry

35. A. at’tractive B. ‘sociable C. dy’namic D. con’servative

36. A. enter’tain B. en’joyable C. anni’versary D. intro’duce

37. A. ap’proval B. at’tractive C. ‘sacrifice D. ro’mantic

38. A. ‘conical B. ‘ancestor C. ‘ceremony D. tra’ditional

39. A. ro’mantic B. ‘following C. ‘sumary D. ‘physical

40. A. ‘maintenance B. ‘appearace C. de’velop D. ‘different

41. A. con’tactual B. sig’nificant C. ‘Asia D. de’manding

42. A. ap’pearance B. ‘measurement C. ‘counterpart D. ‘cultural

43. A. ma’jority B. mi’nority C. ‘partnership D. en’joyable

44. A. ‘marvelous B. ‘argument C. apop’lectic D. ‘maximum

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45. A. de’parture B. se’parate C. nec’cessary D. ‘wrongdoing

46. A. at’tention B. ap’proriate C. ‘terrible D. non-‘verbal

47 A. ac’cording B. infor’mality C. ex’pensive D. ac’ceptable

48. A. as’sistance B. con’sider C. po’litely D. ‘compliment

49. A. ‘mischievous B. ‘family C. sup’portive D. ‘suitable

50. A. ‘memory B. ‘typical C. re’ward D. ‘marketing

Exercise 2: Indentify the main stressed syllable of the following words and put
them into the correct column.

Workbook , tomato, mountain, prescription, preparation, destination, productivity,

interesting, economic, college, famous, effort, effect, deafness, speaker,
considerate, community, different, photographer, above, independent, appreciation,
civilization, prehistory, optimistic, incredible, refugee.

First Second Third

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Workbook Tomato Preparation

Mountain Prescription Destination

Interesting Effect Productivity

College Considerate Iconomic

Famous Community Independent

Effort Photographer Appreciation

Deafness Above Civilization

Speaker Prehistory Optimistic

Different Incredible Refugee

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