Stress refers to emphasis placed on syllables or words when speaking. In English, content words like nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs are typically stressed, while function words are not. There are three types of stress: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Stress patterns differ between word types and lengths. Disyllabic nouns usually stress the first syllable, while verbs stress the last. Multisyllabic words can stress any syllable. Emphatic stress is used to draw attention and shows importance by changing pitch on a particular word. Public exams test identifying correct stress patterns and words with emphatic stress.

2. Stress is the extra muscular activityStress is the extra muscular activity
or force that is exerted on either theor force that is exerted on either the
syllable of a word or the entire word.syllable of a word or the entire word.
It is not every word of a sentence thatIt is not every word of a sentence that
is stressed in the English language.is stressed in the English language.
Those words or syllables of a wordThose words or syllables of a word
that are stressed are usually morethat are stressed are usually more
prominent than others. Generally,prominent than others. Generally,
nounsnouns,, verbsverbs,, adjectivesadjectives,, adverbsadverbs,,
andand relative pronounsrelative pronouns are stressed inare stressed in
a sentence.a sentence. Personal pronounsPersonal pronouns
conjunctionsconjunctions,, prepositionsprepositions, and, and
articlesarticles on the other hand are noton the other hand are not

3. It should be noted that, when we stressIt should be noted that, when we stress
the syllable of a word, or the entire wordthe syllable of a word, or the entire word
we perceived that the syllable or the wordwe perceived that the syllable or the word
is louder and longer compared to theis louder and longer compared to the
unstressed word or syllable around it.unstressed word or syllable around it.
There are three different types of stress inThere are three different types of stress in
English which can be assigned to eitherEnglish which can be assigned to either
disyllabic or multisyllabic words.disyllabic or multisyllabic words.
1.1. PRIMARY OR NUCLEAR STRESS.PRIMARY OR NUCLEAR STRESS.
This is marked by a high upright lineThis is marked by a high upright line
placed on the syllable that is consideredplaced on the syllable that is considered
louder and longer than the others.louder and longer than the others.

4. 2.2. SECONDARY STRESSSECONDARY STRESS ..
This is marked by a low upright lineThis is marked by a low upright line
on the next syllable that we consideron the next syllable that we consider
loud and long but not as loud andloud and long but not as loud and
long as the one that attracts thelong as the one that attracts the
primary stress.primary stress.
3.3. TERTIARY STRESSTERTIARY STRESS..
This is assigned to less prominentThis is assigned to less prominent
syllables or words.syllables or words.

5. EXAMPLE.EXAMPLE.
ee^^coconono’’micmic
rere^^sponsisponsi’’bilitybility
In the two words above, the secondaryIn the two words above, the secondary
stress comes in the first syllable, while thestress comes in the first syllable, while the
primary or main stress for economic comesprimary or main stress for economic comes
in the third syllable from the left. That ofin the third syllable from the left. That of
responsibility comes in the third syllableresponsibility comes in the third syllable
from the right. We indicate the syllable thatfrom the right. We indicate the syllable that
is stressed in a word by either using a highis stressed in a word by either using a high
upright line, an asterisk or writing theupright line, an asterisk or writing the
syllable in capital letters as indicated insyllable in capital letters as indicated in
the examples above. E.g. ma’ster (n),the examples above. E.g. ma’ster (n),
*master MAS-ter.*master MAS-ter.

7. We have different methods of stressWe have different methods of stress
assignment on disyllabic and multisyllabicassignment on disyllabic and multisyllabic
words. Generally, disyllabic nouns arewords. Generally, disyllabic nouns are
stressed on the first syllable whilestressed on the first syllable while
disyllabic verbs are stressed on the lastdisyllabic verbs are stressed on the last
syllable.syllable.
e.g.e.g.
DisyllableDisyllable nounsnouns DisyllableDisyllable verbsverbs
ma’sma’ster atter at tete’’ndnd
tea’tea’chercher bebelielie’’veve
prea’prea’chercher reretiti’’rere
crea’crea’tortor reretutu’’rnrn
pai’npai’nterter aabubu’’sese
pra’pra’yeryer bebeha’veha’ve

8. mi’smi’stake altake al lolo’’ww
ba’ba’byby enensusu’’rere
wri’wri’terter atattaitai’’nn
a’na’ngelgel dedeceicei’’veve..
In public examinations such as NAE, theIn public examinations such as NAE, the
candidate is given four words three ofcandidate is given four words three of
which have the same stress pattern whilewhich have the same stress pattern while
the last one is stressed differently. Thethe last one is stressed differently. The
candidate is expected to choose the optioncandidate is expected to choose the option
that has the word that has a different stressthat has the word that has a different stress
pattern. E.g.pattern. E.g.
A. mistakeA. mistake
B. attendB. attend
C. forgiveC. forgive
D. invite.D. invite.

9. In the example above, options B, CIn the example above, options B, C
and D have the same stress patternand D have the same stress pattern
while option A is stressed differently.while option A is stressed differently.
option A is, therefore, the correctoption A is, therefore, the correct
answer.answer.
Note that disyllabic adjectivesNote that disyllabic adjectives
and adverbs may be stressed eitherand adverbs may be stressed either
at the first or last syllable. A goodat the first or last syllable. A good
rule of thumb therefore is that whenrule of thumb therefore is that when
we pronounce a word the syllable onwe pronounce a word the syllable on
which our pitch is the highest andwhich our pitch is the highest and
longest bears the stress.longest bears the stress.

10. The following are some disyllabic wordsThe following are some disyllabic words
and their stress patterns.and their stress patterns.
Word Correct stressWord Correct stress
advocateadvocate ADADvocatevocate
bargainbargain BARBARgaingain
canoecanoe cacaNOENOE
challengechallenge CHALCHALlengelenge
colleaguecolleague COLCOLleagueleague
despitedespite desdesPITEPITE
eliteelite eeLITELITE
success sucsuccess suc CESSCESS
genuinegenuine GENGENuineuine
interpret ininterpret in TERTERpretpret

11. opponentopponent opopPOPOnentnent
impartialimpartial imimPARPARtialtial
interestinginteresting ININterestingteresting
importantimportant imimPORPORtanttant
tribalismtribalism TRITRIbalismbalism
documentdocument DOCDOCumentument
criticismcriticism CRITCRITicismicism
complementcomplement COMCOMplementplement
circumstancecircumstance CIRCIRcumstancecumstance
successsuccess sucsucCESSCESS

12. Stress patterns of multisyllabic wordsStress patterns of multisyllabic words ..
Multisyllabic words may be stressed on anyMultisyllabic words may be stressed on any
syllable. In public examinations, thesyllable. In public examinations, the
candidate is given a word and differentcandidate is given a word and different
options A to D. The syllable that is stressedoptions A to D. The syllable that is stressed
is capitalised. We are expected to chooseis capitalised. We are expected to choose
the option that has the appropriate stress.the option that has the appropriate stress.
E.g.E.g.
1. autocratic1. autocratic
A. AU-to-cra-ticA. AU-to-cra-tic
B. au-TO-cra-ticB. au-TO-cra-tic
C. au-to-CRA-ticC. au-to-CRA-tic
D. au-to-cra-TICD. au-to-cra-TIC

13. In the example above, the correctIn the example above, the correct
answer is C because it is the secondanswer is C because it is the second
syllable from the end that is stressed.syllable from the end that is stressed.
The following are rules governingThe following are rules governing
the stress patterns of multisyllabicthe stress patterns of multisyllabic
words.words.

14. Simple ruleS for
aSSigning StreSS to
polySyllabic wordS

15. We shall consider some simple rulesWe shall consider some simple rules
for stress placement based on wordfor stress placement based on word
endings (suffixes).endings (suffixes).
‘‘ateate’ stress the first syllable if the’ stress the first syllable if the
word has three or more syllables.word has three or more syllables.
Example:Example:
CALCALculateculate CASCAStigatetigate
ALALtenatetenate
DEMDEMonstrateonstrate MAMAgistrategistrate
PROPROmulgatemulgate
FORFORtunatetunate MOMOtivatetivate
CONCONfiscatefiscate
PENPENetrateetrate OPOPerateerate

16. ‘‘--icic’ stress the second syllable from the end’ stress the second syllable from the end
if a word has three or four syllables.if a word has three or four syllables.
Example:Example:
idioidioMAMATTicic ecoecoNONOmicmic optioptiMISMIStictic
dradraMAMAtictic inorinorGAGAnicnic humanhumanISIStictic
ememPHAPHAtic histic hisTOTORRicic phophoNETNETicsics
‘‘--calcal’ stress the third syllable from the end if’ stress the third syllable from the end if
the word has four or five syllables.the word has four or five syllables.
Example:Example:
demodemoCRACRAtical geotical geoMETMETrical rerical reCIPCIProcalrocal
ecoecoNOMNOMicalical hishisTORTORicalical memeTHODTHODicalical
photophotoGRAPGRAPHHical poical poLITLITical ilical ilLOLOgicalgical

17. ‘‘--ureure’ stress the second syllable from the’ stress the second syllable from the
end if the word has three or four syllables.end if the word has three or four syllables.
Example:Example:
adadMIXMIXtureture conconJECJECtureture
adadVENVENtureture dedeBENBENtureture
‘‘--ionion’ stress the second syllable from the end’ stress the second syllable from the end
if the word has four or five syllables.if the word has four or five syllables.
Example:Example:
satissatisFACFACtiontion exeexeCUCUtiontion elimielimiNANAtiontion

18. ‘‘--ationation’ stress the second syllable from’ stress the second syllable from
the end.the end.
Example:Example:
adminisadminisTRATRAtion privatition privati ZAZAtiontion
confedeconfedeRARAtion considetion conside RARAtiontion
co-opeco-opeRARAtion organition organi ZAZAtiontion
‘‘--ismism’ Stress the first syllable (’ Stress the first syllable ( initialinitial
stressstress))
PATPATrotismrotism NANAtionalismtionalism RARAtionismtionism
ORORganismganism MECHMECHanismanism
COMmunism

19. ‘‘--ableable’ stress the first syllable from’ stress the first syllable from
the beginning if the word has four orthe beginning if the word has four or
five syllables.five syllables.
Example:Example:
COMCOMfortablefortable EXEEXEcutablecutable
FAFAvourablevourable
HOHOnourablenourable REAREAsonablesonable
CRECREditableditable

20. EMPHATIC STRESSEMPHATIC STRESS ..
Emphatic or shifting stress is usedEmphatic or shifting stress is used
by the speaker to show the importanceby the speaker to show the importance
or significance of a unit of informationor significance of a unit of information
in an utterance. Emphasis is focusedin an utterance. Emphasis is focused
on the most important element theon the most important element the
speaker wishes to draw attention tospeaker wishes to draw attention to
and it is achieved through the degreeand it is achieved through the degree
of intensity (pitch change) given to theof intensity (pitch change) given to the
particular word.particular word.

21. In public examinations, we are given fourIn public examinations, we are given four
options lettered A to D. The word thatoptions lettered A to D. The word that
bears the emphatic stress is capitalised.bears the emphatic stress is capitalised.
The candidate is expected to choose theThe candidate is expected to choose the
option that contrasts the word that isoption that contrasts the word that is
capitalised in the sentence.capitalised in the sentence.
e.g.e.g.
1. The teacher1. The teacher SOLDSOLD a book to him?a book to him?
A. Did the teacher sell a book to him?A. Did the teacher sell a book to him?
B. Did the teacher borrow a book fromB. Did the teacher borrow a book from
him?him?
C. Did the teacher buy a book from him?C. Did the teacher buy a book from him?
D. Did the teacher loan a book to him?D. Did the teacher loan a book to him?

22. The correct answer is ‘C’ becauseThe correct answer is ‘C’ because
‘‘buybuy’ is the only word that contrast’ is the only word that contrast
‘sold’.‘sold’.