How do I know if a syllable is stressed or unstressed?
Dictionaries always show which syllables are stressed. Although they have different ways of showing it, they have punctuation keys. For instance, the first syllable of syl la ble is stressed. Check this dictionary entry to see how two different dictionaries indicate this stress.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/syllable
You can tell by listening to the word, pronounced by someone who knows! Or you can tell by the marks in the dictionary. Here are some examples:
http://www.answers.com/topic/incomprehensible
You can see the word itself, divided into syllables; then in parentheses, there are pronunciation indicators, including what look like an apostrophes:
in·com·pre·hen·si·ble (ĭn'kŏm-prĭ-hĕn'sə-bəl, ĭn-kŏm'-)
On the webpage itself, you should notice that the first ' after "in" is lighter in color than the one after "hen" -- that means that "hen" is pronounced the most loudly of all the syllables in the word, and that "in" is pronounced a bit less loudly than "hen."
After the closing parenthesis, there's a little speaker symbol. If you click on it, you can hear the word pronounced.
If you have specific words you have questions about, be sure to let us know.
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Could you help me with these words? lore, lend, increase, and interrupts.
Thanks for the help.
One way I have used to work with students on stressed and unstressed syllables is to "pat the word out". Say the word outloud. Pat your hand on your desk or table when you say it. How many times do you pat your hand? This will give you the number of syllables. Then, say the word again; pat your hand harder when you say that part of the word louder or longer. That will be the stressed syllable. Even high school students (who think patting is silly) find out that it works.
Below is the marking for those words.
lore - 'lOr
lend - 'lend
increase - in-'kres, 'in-kres (both are correct.)
interrupts - in-t&-'r&pts, 'in-t&-r&pts"
To determine if a syllable is stressed or unstressed, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the word's primary stress: The primary stress in a word is the syllable that receives the most emphasis when pronouncing the word. You can find this by referring to a dictionary or pronunciation guide.
2. Recognize the patterns: In English, there are certain general rules that can help you determine the stress patterns of words:
- Many two-syllable nouns and adjectives are stressed on the first syllable (e.g., "table," "happy").
- Two-syllable verbs often have the stress on the second syllable (e.g., "begin," "record").
- Words ending in -ic, -sion, -tion, -ic, -ology, -al, -ive, and -ly are usually stressed on the second-to-last syllable (e.g., "fantastic," "decision," "biology," "classic").
- Compound words often have the primary stress on the first syllable (e.g., "blackboard," "sunshine").
3. Understand exceptions and variations: English can be inconsistent when it comes to stress patterns. Some words may have irregular stress placement, so it's important to consult a dictionary or listen to native speakers to properly learn the stress patterns.
4. Listen and practice: To develop a better sense of stressed and unstressed syllables, listen to native speakers pronounce words and sentences. Pay attention to the rhythm, emphasis, and pitch. Practice speaking and reading aloud to improve your own pronunciation and stress placement.
Remember that mastering stress patterns takes time and practice, but by familiarizing yourself with the patterns and listening to native speakers, you can improve your understanding of stressed and unstressed syllables in English.