🔥 8 Easy WORD STRESS Rules to Speak English Clearly (Powerful!)

Summary

This video offers an insightful guide on mastering English word stress, focusing on key pronunciation rules. It covers topics like the stress patterns of two-syllable nouns and verbs, stress in compound nouns, and the effects of suffixes such as -ic, -sion, and -ate. The video also highlights common exceptions, such as 'hotel' and 'guitar,' and the importance of stressing the second word in phrasal verbs. With practical examples and tips, viewers learn how to improve their English clarity and avoid frequent mistakes, making it a must-watch for anyone looking to refine their pronunciation skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learn to stress the right syllables in English to improve pronunciation and clarity.
• 😀 The stressed syllable in two-syllable **nouns** and **adjectives** typically falls on the **first syllable**.
• 😀 For two-syllable **verbs**, stress usually falls on the **second syllable**.
• 😀 Words that can be both **nouns** and **verbs** follow different stress rules: stress the **first syllable** for nouns and the **second syllable** for verbs.
• 😀 When words end in **-ick**, **-ion**, or **-sion**, stress falls on the **penultimate (second-to-last) syllable**.
• 😀 Never stress suffixes (e.g., **-ness**, **-ment**) unless they are exceptions like **Japanese** or **engineer**.
• 😀 In **compound nouns**, stress is placed on the **first word**. For example, stress the first part in **greenhouse** or **motorcycle**.
• 😀 In an **adjective + noun** combination, stress the **noun**. For example, in **nice person** or **big shoes**, stress is on **person** and **shoes**.
• 😀 In **phrasal verbs**, stress the **second word**. For example, in **look out** or **put up**, stress falls on **out** and **up**.
• 😀 Common mistakes include mis-stressing words like **hotel**, **guitar**, **exam**, and **realize**. Be mindful of the correct stress pattern.

Q & A

What is the main difference between 'hurricane' and 'Harry Kane'?

The main difference is in word stress. In 'hurricane,' the stress is on the first syllable ('HUR-ri-cane'), while in 'Harry Kane,' the stress is on the first syllable of 'Harry' and 'Kane' ('HAR-ry KANE').

How can you identify where the stressed syllable is in a word?

You can identify the stressed syllable in a word by looking at its phonetic transcription in a dictionary. The stressed syllable is marked with an apostrophe (') before it.

What is the rule for word stress in two-syllable nouns?

For two-syllable nouns, the stress is placed on the first syllable. For example, in 'campus,' 'county,' and 'maker,' the stress is on the first syllable ('CAM-pus,' 'COUN-ty,' 'MA-ker').

How do you stress two-syllable adjectives?

In two-syllable adjectives, the stress is also placed on the first syllable. For instance, 'happy,' 'pretty,' and 'local' all have the stress on the first syllable ('HAP-py,' 'PRET-ty,' 'LO-cal').

How do you stress two-syllable verbs?

In two-syllable verbs, the stress is placed on the second syllable. For example, 'repeat,' 'forgive,' and 'prefer' have stress on the second syllable ('re-PEAT,' 'for-GIVE,' 'pre-FER').

What happens to word stress when a word can be both a noun and a verb?

When a word can be both a noun and a verb, the stress usually shifts. For nouns, the stress is on the first syllable (e.g., 'RE-cord'), while for verbs, the stress is on the second syllable (e.g., 're-CORD').

How do word stress patterns work with suffixes like 'ick' or 'shun'?

When words end with suffixes like 'ick' or 'shun,' the stress falls on the penultimate syllable (the second-to-last syllable). For example, in 'static' ('STA-tic') and 'expectation' ('ex-pec-TA-tion'), the stress is on the syllable before the suffix.

What is the rule for stressing words that end with '-ate'?

For words that end with '-ate,' the stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. For example, 'eliminate' ('e-LIM-in-ate'), 'integrate' ('in-TEG-rate'), and 'negotiate' ('ne-GO-ti-ate') follow this pattern.

What is a key exception to the rule of never stressing suffixes in English?

A key exception to the rule of not stressing suffixes is with words that end in '-ese' when referring to nationalities or professions, such as 'Japanese' or 'employee.' In these cases, the suffix is stressed.

How do you stress compound nouns?

In compound nouns, the stress typically falls on the first word. For example, 'greenhouse' ('GREEN-house') and 'motorcycle' ('MO-tor-cycle'). If you stress the wrong word, it can change the meaning of the phrase.