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Gustavo K Posted 10 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

Intonation

Please, I'd like to know the correct intonation for the question "what is it?". Do we stress the verb "be" or the pronoun "it"? Does it change if I use the contraction by saying "what's it?"?

How would it be in the following short conversation?:

- Is that a balloon in the sky?
- No, it isn't.
- What is it? (or What's it?)
  

Top answer

'. " We would not say that as a stand-alone utterance: - Is that a balloon in the sky? - No, it isn't.

— Mister Micawber

  • '.
  • " We would not say that as a stand-alone utterance: - Is that a balloon in the sky?
  • - No, it isn't.
  • - What is it?
  • ) - Is that a balloon in the sky?
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2 Answers
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Gustavo KDo we stress the verb "be"
Yes, normally it is 'What IS it?'. If the pronoun were to be stressed, it would be changed to 'this' or 'that': 'What is THIS?'
Gustavo KDoes it change if I use the contraction by saying "what's it?"
We would not say that as a stand-alone utterance:

- Is that a balloon in the
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