STRESS AND INTONATION

Stress and intonation

Stress is an extra force when pronouncing particular word in a sentence or syllable in a word.

          Intonation is the rising and falling of voice when pronouncing a particular word or syllable.

          Study the following questions

1.   How long will you stay in the school

2.   Did Musa call you a thief ?

Note that in question (1) the intonation falls while in question (2) the intonation raises.

Now, to answer question (1), you must answer with either “yes” or “No”

     Now Notice the differences

 

Raising intonation(Yes/No )                         Falling intonation                  

1. Did Musa call you a thief ?            1. How long will you stay?

Ans: No, he didn’t                       Ans: Just one week

2. Did I ask you to come?         2. Who ask you to come ?

Ans: yes, you did                          Ans; It was you

3. Did you buy a car ?              3. How much did you buy the car ?

Ans: No, I didn’t                            Ans: fifty kobo

4. Did you finish your home       4. Who among the teacher gave         

Homework?

    Ans: yes, he does                       Ans: our English Tutor

5. Does your father pay him salary        5. Who pay him salary?

          Ans: Yes, he does                          It is our father

Exercise 1

Now answer the following questions

(1)  How many teachers are there in your school?

(2)  How old is your youngest sister?

(3)  Do you think your elder brother is your mate?

(4)  Can you read a passage without any assistance?

(5)  How many Kilometers from here to Lagos?

(6)  Where is your younger sister now?