Language of the Day: Intonation
Did you know that the intonation of a word can change depending on how it’s used? Really? Yes, really!
The example above shows how the word “really” sounds different when it’s used in a statement versus when it’s used in a question. In a statement, the emphasis is on the first syllable, really, and in a question, the second syllable is stressed, really?
Today we’re going to look at words that are pronounced differently when they’re used as nouns compared to when they’re used as verbs. In the noun form the first syllable is stressed, and in the verb form, the second syllable is stressed. Check out the examples below!
“I moved to a new house and have to update my address.”
“The speaker will address the housing crisis in her presentation.”
“May I request a record of my employment?”
“Don’t forget to record the Zoom meeting!”
“Thanks for the lovely birthday present!”
“I will present my business plan to the committee.”
“The team has made a lot of progress since last year.”
“After I pass the first level, I can progress to the next level.”
“I prefer to buy fresh produce from the local farmers’ market.”
“How much jam does a pound of berries produce?”
“She has to apply for a permit for her new food truck.”
“Sorry, we cannot permit you to enter without valid identification.”
“The students have been working on a class project all week.”
“He bought a new device which can project movies on a screen.”
“My brother and I have been dealing with a family conflict for months.”
“Our schedules conflict so we’ll have to delay the meeting to next week.”
“My dog is such a rebel and never listens to my commands.”
“Teenagers tend to rebel against rules and authority figures.”
