Module 4 – Sentence Stress | Phonetic Flipbook

Introduction

Content vs. Function Words

In English, content words carry the meaning and are usually stressed. Function words provide grammar links and are usually unstressed.

✓ Content Words (stressed)

Nouns: dog, house, music
Main Verbs: run, decide, love
Adjectives: big, happy, cold
Adverbs: quickly, really
Wh-words: what, where, why
Negatives: not, never, no

× Function Words (unstressed)

Articles: a, an, the
Prepositions: in, on, at, to
Conjunctions: and, but, or
Pronouns: he, she, it, them
Aux. Verbs: is, was, can, have
Possessives: my, your, his

Listen: "The DOG is in the HOUSE." — Only "dog" and "house" are stressed. The articles and preposition fade.

Meaning Shift

Stress Changes Meaning

The same sentence can mean different things depending on which word is stressed. Listen carefully to each version.

I didn't say he stole it.

→ Someone else said it (not me)

I didn't say he stole it.

→ I never said it (denial)

I didn't say he stole it.

→ I implied it, but didn't literally say it

I didn't say he stole it.

→ Someone else stole it (not him)

I didn't say he stole it.

→ He may have borrowed it

Speaking Practice

Stress the Right Word

Listen to each sentence, then record yourself stressing the highlighted word. Compare your recording with the native version.

Target sentence: "She LOVES to SING."

Remember: In fast natural speech, unstressed words are often shortened — "to" becomes /tə/, "a" becomes /ə/. Only the stressed words keep their full form.

Quiz

Sentence Stress Quiz

Identify stress patterns and meaning.