Sentence Stress Rules
The basic rules of sentence stress are:
- content words are stressed
- structure words are unstressed
- the time between stressed words is always the same
The following tables can help you decide which words are content words and which words are structure words:
Content words - stressed
| words carrying the meaning | example |
|---|---|
| main verbs | SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY |
| nouns | CAR, MUSIC, MARY |
| adjectives | RED, BIG, INTERESTING |
| adverbs | QUICKLY, WHY, NEVER |
| negative auxiliaries | DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T |
Structure words - unstressed
| words for correct grammar | example |
|---|---|
| pronouns | he, we, they |
| prepositions | on, at, into |
| articles | a, an, the |
| conjunctions | and, but, because |
| auxiliary verbs | do, be, have, can, must |
Exceptions
The rules above are for what is called "neutral" or normal stress. But sometimes we can stress a word that would normally be only a structure word, for example to correct information. Look at the following dialogue:
"They've been to Mongolia, haven't they?"
"No, THEY haven't, but WE have."
"No, THEY haven't, but WE have."
Note also that when "be" is used as a main verb, it is usually unstressed—even though as a main verb it is also a content word.