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Alex+ Posted 18 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
stress in "What is it?"
My teacher says that we should pronounce "What is this?" and "What is it?" in a different way. "What is this?" - with a stress on "this". (I completely agree with her.)
"What is it?" – without a stress on "it".
But I've heard a lot of time people (in movies) pronounced "What is this?" and "What is it?" in the same way.
Could you explain how to pronounce "What is it?" correctly?
"What is it?" – without a stress on "it".
But I've heard a lot of time people (in movies) pronounced "What is this?" and "What is it?" in the same way.
Could you explain how to pronounce "What is it?" correctly?
Top answer
" correctly? The major stress usually goes on the ' is '. Clive
- " correctly?
- The major stress usually goes on the ' is '.
- Clive
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12 Answers
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Hi,
Could you explain how to pronounce "What is it?" correctly?
The major stress usually goes on the 'is'.
Clive
Could you explain how to pronounce "What is it?" correctly?
The major stress usually goes on the 'is'.
Clive
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But a lot of times I've heardYes, the same way, you say. But which way? What is [this / it]? or What is [this / it]?a lot of timepeople (in movies) pronounced"What is this?" and "What is it?" in the same way.
CJ
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I meant What is ['this / 'it]? with stress on this / it (Sorry I don't know how to make bold type)
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Hi,
Here are the common stress patterns. Please note that these differences are subtle rather than huge.
What IS it? What IS this? In both of these cases, the stress brings attention to the 'existence of the thing'. eg Perhaps the speaker wants to know its purpose. The verb is
Here are the common stress patterns. Please note that these differences are subtle rather than huge.
What IS it? What IS this? In both of these cases, the stress brings attention to the 'existence of the thing'. eg Perhaps the speaker wants to know its purpose. The verb is
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Boldface font: Highlight with your mouse. Click the B. (See the B I U above?)
CJ
CJ
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The only context I can think of where What is it? is used is when asking for the referent of the word it where the referent is unclear. It means "What are you referring to by using the word it?"
-- It's very expensive!
-- What is it? / What's it?
-- Caviar.
-- I found it in a garbage can.
-- What is it? /
-- It's very expensive!
-- What is it? / What's it?
-- Caviar.
-- I found it in a garbage can.
-- What is it? /
00
Dear, Clive, you wrote :
[ Note also that 'What is it? is not abbreviated to What's it? ]
Does it mean that "What's it?" is not correct?
[ Note also that 'What is it? is not abbreviated to What's it? ]
Does it mean that "What's it?" is not correct?
00
Hl,
you wrote :
[ Note also that 'What is it? is not abbreviated to What's it? ]
Does it mean that "What's it?" is not correct?
It's correct grammar. But if you listen to 100 people say that, I think 0 people will say it in the abbreviated way.
Clive
you wrote :
[ Note also that 'What is it? is not abbreviated to What's it? ]
Does it mean that "What's it?" is not correct?
It's correct grammar. But if you listen to 100 people say that, I think 0 people will say it in the abbreviated way.
Clive
00
Forgive my butting in.
Note that the contracted form can only be used when you are questioning the subject, as in the unusual cases I showed above. When questioning the complement -- the typical case -- you cannot use the contracted form because the is is stressed.
When you question the subject, the referent of it is unknown.
-- I found
Note that the contracted form can only be used when you are questioning the subject, as in the unusual cases I showed above. When questioning the complement -- the typical case -- you cannot use the contracted form because the is is stressed.
When you question the subject, the referent of it is unknown.
-- I found
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