About this lesson
Intonation is how your voice rises and falls as you speak, and it changes both what a sentence means and how it sounds. The same words can show a question, a doubt or annoyance just by changing the tune. The teachers in this mix start with the simplest pattern: a fall says you have finished, and a rise says there is more to come, or that you are checking.
Questions are where many learners get stuck. A common default is that yes or no questions rise, and questions with who, what, where or why fall. One teacher in this mix says it is wrong to think every question must rise: a real question falls, while a question that checks something you half know rises. Lists and choices rise on each item and fall on the last, so the listener hears where you have finished. A fall followed by a rise says that a contrast or more is coming.
Treat these as defaults, not laws. The same tune can mean different things, teachers count the patterns differently, and some of the tips here are tendencies. Listen to real speech, copy a model, and try one word with each shape. Intonation changes slowly, so expect weeks of listening and short practice.
Examples from the clips
- Oxford Online English shows how one simple question can mean several different things, just by changing the pitch.
- Pronunciation with Emma explains falling to finish and rising to continue, and covers questions, options and lists.
- mmmEnglish compares a yes or no question with a question that starts with who, what, where or why.
- POC English teaches falling, rising, and the fall then rise that shows a contrast is coming.
Questions this lesson answers
What is intonation in English?
It is the rise and fall of your voice when you speak. It carries meaning and attitude, and it shows whether you have finished or are still going.
Do all questions go up at the end?
No. Yes or no questions often rise and questions with who, what, where or why often fall, but a real question can fall, and a question that checks something you half know rises.
How do I say a list or a choice?
Rise on each item and fall on the last one. This tells the listener where the list ends.
What is a fall-rise?
It is a fall followed by a rise. It says the thought is not finished, or that you are unsure, and it is often used before a contrast.
How can I practise intonation?
Listen to real speech, copy a model, and say one word with each shape. Hum the tune if it helps. It takes weeks of short practice.