About this lesson
English sounds natural because of three things: which syllables are strong, how the small words squeeze in between, and how the voice goes up and down. In every longer word one syllable is stressed. It is louder, a little higher and a little longer than the rest. The other syllables must be weak, often with a short, soft vowel sound. If everything is strong, the speech is hard to follow.
The same idea works across a sentence. Words with real meaning, like nouns and verbs, carry the beat. Small grammar words are squashed between them and linked to their neighbours, so a final consonant often slides onto the next vowel. Moving the strongest word can change what you mean. Pitch helps too: a falling tone tells the listener you are finished, and a rising tone tells them there is more to come.
Treat the rules as strong tendencies, not laws. Perfect equal timing between beats is not true of real speech, many word-stress rules have exceptions, and linking makes speech smooth rather than fast. Check unfamiliar words in a dictionary, and use imitation with a good model to tie it all together.
Examples from the clips
- Oxford Online English explains what makes a stressed syllable different and why the other syllables go weak.
- Speak English With Rupert shows how words with real meaning get the beat while grammar words are squeezed.
- English with Emma shows that moving the strongest word in a short sentence changes what it means.
- English with Lucy and AccurateEnglish drill the beat and the linking between words, and Oxford Online English practises four pitch shapes.
Questions this lesson answers
How do I use word stress in English?
Give one syllable in each longer word more strength: louder, a little higher and longer. Keep the rest weak. Check new words in a dictionary instead of guessing.
What is sentence stress?
The strongest words in a sentence, usually nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, get the beat. Small grammar words are shorter and quieter.
Does English really have equal time between stressed words?
Only roughly. It is a tendency to squash small words so the beats come at a steady pace. Real sentences do not fit it perfectly.
What is intonation and how do I practise it?
It is the rise and fall of your voice. A basic pattern is to fall at the end of a finished sentence and rise when you have more to say. Practise one word with different tones, then short sentences.
Does linking words make me speak faster?
Not necessarily. Linking makes speech smoother and more natural. Aim for smoothness first and let speed follow.