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Rules of Word Stress in English
1 Stress on first syllable
rule
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example
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Most 2-syllable nouns
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PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble
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Most 2-syllable adjectives
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PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy
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2 Stress on last syllable
rule
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example
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Most 2-syllable verbs
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to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to beGIN
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3 Stress on penultimate syllable (penultimate = second from end)
rule
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example
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Words ending in -ic
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GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geoLOGic
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Words ending in -sion and -tion
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teleVIsion, reveLAtion
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4 Stress on ante-penultimate syllable (ante-penultimate = third from end)
rule
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example
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Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phy and -gy
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deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy
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Words ending in -al
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CRItical, geoLOGical
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5 Compound words (words with two parts)
rule
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example
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For compound nouns, the stress is on the first part
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BLACKbird, GREENhouse
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For compound adjectives, the stress is on the second part
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bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned
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For compound verbs, the stress is on the second part
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to underSTAND, to overFLOW
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