Pronunciation Practice: Word Stress

Did you know that one sentence can have many meaning depending on which words you stress? It's true! American English speakers often stress different words in order to emphasize different meanings. For example, let's look at the following sentence:

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.

The meaning seems pretty clear: A girl owes me money. However, watch how the sentence takes on new meanings as we stress different words:

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  It was a specific girl rather than another girl or boy.

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  This takes place in the past time rather than the present time.

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  I expected rather than demanded, wanted, or needed, the money.

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  The action is giving, not taking, borrowing, or lending.
  
• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  I am the recipient, not another person.

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  I expect ten dollars—no more, no less.

• She was supposed to give me ten dollars.
  I don't want dimes, quarters, or even apples. I want dollars!

See if you can figure out the meanings of the following sentences.

• I don't want the cookies that he baked.
• I don't want the cookies that he baked.
• I don't want the cookies that he baked.
• I don't want the cookies that he baked.
• I don't want the cookies that he baked.
• I don't want the cookies that he baked.

Learn more about pronunciation and other aspects of American English at Nomen Global.