Which of the following describes a stressed syllable?
the part of a word that is silent
the part of a word pronounced with force
the root word
the first letter of a word
The part of a word pronounced with force describes a stressed syllable.
A stressed syllable is the part of a word pronounced with force.
The correct answer is: "the part of a word pronounced with force."
To determine whether a syllable is stressed or not, we need to consider the emphasis or force it receives when pronouncing the word. In English, stressed syllables are pronounced with more emphasis and sound louder and longer than unstressed syllables. They often have a higher pitch.
To identify which syllable is stressed in a word, you can follow these steps:
1. Break the word down into its individual syllables. A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that consists of a vowel sound (or a vowel sound combined with consonant sounds).
2. Listen to the word carefully and try saying it out loud. Pay attention to which syllable sounds louder, longer, or more emphasized in terms of pitch and intensity.
3. Identify the syllable that carries the stress based on the patterns in English pronunciation. Some common patterns include:
- In words with two syllables, the stress usually falls on the first syllable (e.g., "happy" /ˈhæpi/).
- In words with three or more syllables, there may be secondary stresses in addition to the primary stress. These secondary stresses are usually less pronounced than the primary stress but still receive more emphasis than the unstressed syllables. Various factors such as word origin, stress patterns, and pronunciation may influence the placement of these stresses.
Remember, understanding stressed syllables is essential for correct pronunciation and can contribute to effective communication in English.