TEST 22. Sentence stress and tonic syllables. Listen to the recording of the following sentences, then show

a) the stressed syllables, by marking the stresses;

B) the tonic syllables, by underlining.

Example: I’m going to town to buy some fruit and veg etables.

1. I always visit my parents in the summer.

2. Do you fancy a cup of coffee?

3. My uncle and aunt live in the North of England.

4. Remind me to pick the children up from school at four o’clock.

5. I don’t know John Smith, but I know his sister Jane Smith.

6. I think we’ll eat in the dining-room, for a change.

7. I’d like to speak to Thomas, if he’s in.

8. Susie suggested we meet at the station.

9. Conrad composed a concerto for trumpet.

10. What’s that shirt made of?

A tonic syllable is not just stressed. It also involves a change of pitch. If no stressed syllables in a tone group is more important that any other, then the tonic syllable is found in the last stressed word (VEGetables, in the example).

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