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Yolla Posted 12 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

Sentence stress

Hi.. I'm wondering whether or not this is right.
Which one of these would carry the main stress in the following sentences. I've capitalised my answers (or which I believe is to be the right answer)
I played in the SAND.
I drank it too QUICKLY.
He can EMAIL the file.
I didn't EXPECT him to wait.
She refused to PAY the bill.
Thank you...
  

Top answer

It really depends on context, and often on whether there is a choice implied. 1. I see no extra stress on any word in the first sentence.

— Philip

  • It really depends on context, and often on whether there is a choice implied.
  • 1.
  • I see no extra stress on any word in the first sentence.
  • 2.
  • Probably more like TOO QUICKLY.
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4 Answers
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It really depends on context, and often on whether there is a choice implied. 1. I see no extra stress on any word in the first sentence. 2. Probably more like TOO QUICKLY. 3.okay, the other choice being regular mail. 4 okay. 5. I would expect it more likely to be REFUSED, but (again, context) PAY or even BILL could have the stress.
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yollaWhich one of these would carry the main stress in the following sentences.
Like Philip, I can't agree that there is always just one main stress in a sentence. For example, here's how I hear the last one:

She reFUSed to PAY the BILL.

I'd say that each of those three syllables is stressed about equally.

CJ
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She ANGrily refused to pay the bill..
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