10 Questions
Where does the stress usually fall in two-syllable verbs?
On the second syllable
What is the usual stress pattern for two-syllable nouns and adjectives?
Stress on the first syllable
Where does the stress usually fall in compounds with a numeral?
On the first syllable
What is the stress pattern for adjectives ending in '-ed'?
Stress on the second syllable
Where does the stress usually fall in words ending in '-TION'?
On the syllable before the '-TION'
What is the stress pattern for words ending in '-IAL'?
Stress on the syllable before the '-IAL'
Where does the stress usually fall in words ending in '-GRAPHY'?
On the syllable before the '-GRAPHY'
What is the stress pattern for words ending in '-ATE'?
Stress on the syllable before the '-ATE'
Where does the stress usually fall in words ending in '-ARY'?
Stress on the syllable before the '-ARY'
What is the usual stress pattern for compounds with an adjective or adverb?
Stress on the second syllable
Study Notes
Two-Syllable Words
- Most two-syllable verbs have stress on the second syllable: for'get, re'lax
- Exceptions: 'enter, 'happen, 'open, 'listen
- Most two-syllable nouns and adjectives have stress on the first syllable: 'butcher, 'standard, 'porter
- Exceptions: mis'take, ma'chine
- Numbers with two syllables have stress on the first syllable: thir'teen, four'teen
- Compound nouns usually have stress on the first syllable: 'raincoat, 'airport, 'tea-cup
- Adjectives with suffixes -ed usually have stress on the second syllable: bad-'tempered, 'short-'sighted
- Adverb-verb compounds usually have stress on the second syllable: up'stairs, ill-'treat
- Most adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions with "A" as the first syllable have stress on the second syllable: a'gain, a'live, a'fraid
Three-Syllable Words or More
- Words ending with suffixes -TION, -SION, -IC, -ICAL, -ITY, -IAL, -IALLY, -ITIVE, -LOGY, and -GRAPHY usually have stress on the syllable before the suffix:
- pro'tection, appli'cation, de'cision, permission, ar'tistic, e'lectric, 'musical, scien'tific, po'litical
- Exceptions: 'television, a'rithmetic, 'politics
- Words ending with suffixes -ATE and -ARY usually have stress on the second syllable before the suffix:
- con'siderate, com'municate, 'illustrate, 'fortunate
- Exceptions: docu'mentary, supple'mentary, ele'mentary, ex'traodinary
- Words ending with suffixes EE, EER, ESE, AIRE, IQUE, ESQUE usually have stress on the suffix itself:
- refu'gee, nomi'nee, pio'neer, mountai'neer, engi'neer, Vietna’mese, Portu'gese, Chi'nese, million'naire, question'naire, tech'nique, u'nique, an'tique, pictu'resque
Learn about the rules and exceptions of stress patterns in two-syllable words in English, including verbs, nouns, adjectives, and compound nouns.
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