Word Stress

Content Words
Every language has a way of showing what is important In English, it is the use of content words

Content words are the important words in a sentence or phrase and receive more emphasis, more stress.

Content vs. Function Words

Content words are the important words in a sentence or phrase Content words are the opposite of function words Function words are the less important words in a sentence or phrase

Content Words
Content words are usually one of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. Nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs (man, rock, animal) (live, walk, cry) (sweet, hot, black) (quickly, smartly, shortly)

These words carry most of the meaning in a sentence or phrase, and receive stress.

Function Words
Function words dont carry meaning; they show how the other words are related to each other: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Articles Pronouns Prepositions Conjunctions Auxiliary Verbs (a, an, the) (he, she, you, we) (to, in, by, for) (but, and, or) (will, have, should)

These words are not stressed in sentences and phrases.

Content Words
Content words are the kinds of words you would see in a newspaper headline: 1. Man Eats Horse 2. Storm Hits Coast 3. Girl Wins Race These words capture the main meaning.

Content Words
All the other words in the following examples are function wordslisten to the speaker: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Man eats horse. The man eats the horse. He will eat the horse. The man will eat the horse. He will cook and eat the horse.

Content Words
Another examplelisten to the speaker: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Storm hits coast. The storm hits the coast. It will hit the coast. The storm will hit the coast. It will hit and wreck the coast.

Content Words
Another examplelisten to the speaker: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Girl wins race. The girl wins the race. She will win the race. The girl will win the race. She will run and win the race.

Example

DOGS The DOGS The DOGS

CHASE CATS CHASE the CATS are CHASing the CATS

Example

PEOple

PLANT

TREES

The PEOple

have PLANTed some TREES

The PEOple should have PLANTed some more TREES

You Try
Here are some sentenceswrite them down and circle the content words: 1. I found a rupee in my pocket. 2. I forgot to send the clothes to the laundry.

Answer
Here are some sentenceswrite them down and circle the content words: 1. I found a rupee in my pocket. 2. I forgot to send the clothes to the laundry.

You Try
Here are some sentenceswrite them down and circle the content words: 1. Im planning to take a trip to India in June.

2. He likes to eat pickle with his curd rice.

Answer
Here are some sentenceswrite them down and circle the content words: 1. Im planning to take a trip to India in June.

2. He likes to eat pickle with his curd rice.

Reading Passage
1. Turn to page 100 in your Ignited Minds text. 2. Go through the first paragraph of this section and circle the focus words. 3. When you are finished, listen to the recording, and see if you have found all the focus words.

The Passage (Content Words)

Walking Essential Part Life Wherever Go Make Point Walk Five Kilometers Morning Particularly Attached Seeing Beauty Sunrise Light Precedes Arrival Ears Tuned Songs Birds Sing

The Passage (Content Words)

Welcome Dawning New Day Planet Time Each Experience Phenomena Cool Breeze Singing Birds Arrival Sun Filled Awe Nature Brings Together All Elements Go Making Moment Possible Feel Thankful God

Remember
Content words are stressed more than function words Practice reading sentences and phrases where you stress the content words Remember that content words are nouns, adjectives, and adverbs

The End