Sentence Stress | Tonic Stress Drills

Sentence Stress | Tonic Stress Drills

Rhythm | Drills

This is a sentence.

This is another sentence.

Notice how when I finish my sentence, my intonation falls.

I am not angry, I am not sad, I am not at all emotional.

I am speaking in a neutral tone.

Notice how when I pause there is a rise in my intonation. OR, a fall rise.

This rise we also hear in lists, with pauses. We hear this rise when listing, when pausing and when stressing.

Notice how the words I STRESS ALSO rise. This rise can be small.

To stress a WORD, there can be a RISE in intonation, OR a fall-rise pattern.

Pronunciation Series | Presentation Intonation

Pronunciation Series | Falling intonation for statements / orders

Pronunciation Series | Falling Intonation for Question word questions

Pronunciation Series | Rising intonation (or low-rise) for lists AND long sentences (incompletion), Fall-rise for more emphasis that not finished or hesitancy.

Pronunciation Series | Rising intonation (or low-rise) for lists AND long sentences (incompletion), Fall-rise for more emphasis that not finished or hesitancy.

Pronunciation Series | Advanced: Adding Information

Pronunciation Series | More stress / emphasis / contrast? Longer syllables and optional rising intonation

Pronunciation Series | Rising intonation for questions (doubt, confirmation needed, frustration, GENUINE QUESTION)

Pronunciation Series | Rising intonation to make a statement into a question (real doubt, uncertainty / surprise)?

Pronunciation Series | Changes in Tone for Varying meaning

Pronunciation Series | Rise-fall for strong emotions (or sarcasm)

Pronunciation Practice | Sentence Stress and Rhythm

Pronunciation Practice | Intonation: Rising and Falling Tone

Pronunciation Practice | Stress for contrasting

Peter saw Hannah and Ella together at the cinema on Friday.

No. He saw them together at the cinema on Tuesday.

No. Pedro saw them together.

No. He saw them at the supermarket together on Friday.

...

Factually incorrect sentences:

1. You don’t need a National Insurance number to get a job.

2. All workers in the UK get paid in cash only.

3. There is no minimum wage in the UK.
4. Anyone over 14 can work full-time in the UK.
   • "No, full-time work is only allowed from age 16 and up."
   • "No, young people can only work part-time until they turn 18."
   • "No, there are strict restrictions for anyone under 18."

Pronunciation Practice | Chunking

1. I want you to know.
2. Look at your watch.
3. Did you see that?
4. Didn't you know?
5. I've got you.
6. I went to Spain this year.
7. That's his younger brother.

Connected Speech |

Glides

1. loadsa (loads of)
2. p’haps (perhaps)
3. ‘cos (because)
4. gimme (give me)
5. kinda (kind of)
6. hasta (has to)
7. dunno (don’t know)
8. s’pose (suppose)
9. ‘cept (except)
10. ’em (them)

Connected Speech | Word Blending

1. She has to do her homework for tomorrow.
2. Have you seen them?
3. I don’t know how to complete this exercise.
4. I bet he’s got loads of money.
5. Could you give me the pen?
6. It’s kind of naughty of him.
7. I suppose it’s a long journey.
8. I have to work hard because I need the money.
9. Perhaps it’s not worth doing.
10. They are open everyday, except Sunday.

A: What are you doing?

B: Studying. I have a lot of homework. I hate math. I wish I could drop out of school.

A: Well, you have to go because you need to get your diploma.

B: I guess so. Hey, have you seen Benjamin?

A: No. If he’s not in his room, then he must have gone out. He could have gone to the park to play basketball. It is a nice day.

B: Okay. I’ll look for him there. Later.

Connected Speech | Dialogue 1

A: Hey Jake. How are you?

B: I’m kind of upset.

A: Why? What’s the matter?

B: I lent 100 bucks to my friend last week. But he still hasn’t paid me back.

A: You shouldn’t have lent money to him. It’s not good when money gets between friends.

B: I know. He was supposed to pay me back yesterday, but he didn’t. He didn’t even mention it.

A: I bet you he has forgotten about it. Why don’t you remind him?

B: I guess I have to.

Connected Speech | Dialogue 2

1. What have you been up to recently?
2. I went to the library to study.
3. I saw Phil when he was shopping.
4. What did you get up to at the weekend?
5. I’ve been to Italy twice.
6. What are you doing this evening?
7. Do you fancy meeting up for a coffee?
8. I’m going to have an ice cream.
9. If I knew it was raining, I would have brought an umbrella.
10. Would you mind closing the window?

Connected Speech | Dictation and Drills

1. Let me know what you think of the changes.
2. Give me a moment to think about it.
3. I suppose you didn't hear the news.
4. I dunno what you want to do about it.
5. We're going to have a more complete assessment.
6. We've got a lot of problems to discuss.
7. As far as I know, the plan is going ahead.
8. As far as I'm concerned, She needs to be more attentive.

Connected Speech | Dictation and Drills

1. I should have called you earlier.
2. What are your plans for the summer?
3. I’ll meet you at the park at five.
4. Did you get the email I sent yesterday?
5. They’ve already left for the airport.
6. Can you help me with this assignment?
7. They wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t told them.
8. You should’ve seen the look on his face.
9. If I had known you were coming, I would’ve made dinner.

Connected Speech | Dictation and Drills

1. I’ve got to finalize the slides for tomorrow’s presentation.
2. He’s going to present the quarterly results.
3. Could you help me set up the projector?
4. What time are we scheduled to present?
5. I need to print out the handouts before the meeting.
6. Did you incorporate the feedback from the last year's review?
7. We should have had a backup plan in case of technical  failures.
8. How do you feel about presenting in front of an audience?
9. Can you send me the latest version of the presentation deck?

Connected Speech | Dictation and Drills

1. Did you manage to finish the project?
2. What did you end up doing yesterday?
3. Why didn’t you tell me about ('bout) the change in plans?
4. Could you give me (gimme) a hand with this task?
5. What’s the best way to get to your place?
6. Why didn’t you (dincha) mention the mistake sooner?
7. Who has to present first in the meeting?
8. Do you suppose (spose) we’ll finish on time?
9. Are you going to share them ('em) with everyone?

Connected Speech | Dictation and Drills