STRESS (KCSE ENGLISH PAPER 1)

CLASS: FORM TWO

ORAL SKILLS: LISTENING AND SPEAKING

STRESS AND INTONATION 

STRESS 

Objective

1.  By the end of the section, the learners should be able to explain the difference in meaning between words as a result of placement of a stressed syllable. 

 

NB: You need a good English dictionary for this lesson.

 

STRESS IN WORDS  

This is the emphasis on certain words. Words are made up of units known as syllables. 
 
A syllable is a unit of pronunciation which has one vowel sound and one or more consonant sounds that form the whole or part of a word. 

 

NB: Every syllable must have a vowel sound. 

 

Example: 

Fast – 1 syllable 

Chil•dren – 2 syllables

Beau•ti•ful – 3 syllables 

In•tell•i•gent – 4 syllables 

 

Stressing helps your English sound clear and more natural. This way people will understand what you’re saying more easily. 

 

If a word has one syllable e.g. fast or boy we don’t have to stress it but if a word has two or more syllables at least one syllable must be stressed. 

 

Stressed syllables sound louder, are longer and have a higher pitch than non stressed syllables. While speaking, contrast the unstressed syllables with the stressed syllables by making them quieter, lower and shorter. In some cases they’re reduced to the weak /ə/ sound. 

Grammatical/function words (auxiliary verbs, pronouns, prepositions, determiners etc) do not receive stress. However, lexical/content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) must have at least one stressed syllable. 

 

You can use your dictionary to practise how to pronounce words by placing stress on the correct syllable. The symbol (′) is placed before a stressed syllable for example: 

 

                            i.   Contest /′Kɒn•test/noun -The 1^st syllable is stressed. 

 

She won the Miss Bungoma beauty contest. 

 

                  ii.        Contest /Kən′test/ verb -The second syllable is stressed. 

 

I will contest in the general election for the gubernatorial position. 

 

                iii.        Subject /′sɅb•ʤekt/noun -The first syllable is stressed. 

 

Our subject for discussion is tribalism in Kenya.  

 

                 iv.        Subject /sɅb′ʤekt/ verb -The second syllable is stressed. 

 

Do not subject them to such harrowing conditions. 

 

In the examples above the words contest and subject have two syllables each.

 

NOTE: Each syllable has one vowel sound. 

 

    The word contest /′Kɒn•test/and contest /Kən′test/ have similar spellings but are pronounced differently. This is because in the word contest (n) the stress falls on the first syllable while in contest (v) the stress falls on the second syllable. 

 

        The same applies to words such as subject, record, project etc. depending on whether they are used as nouns or as verbs. 

 

        You may have noticed that these verbs are made up of two syllables. In most cases stress falls on the second syllable. 

 

Subject /sɅb′ʤekt/

 

Record /rɪ′kɔ:d/

 

Project /prɒ′ʤekt/  

 

Nouns are stressed differently. The stress falls on the first syllable. 

 

Subject /′sɅb•ʤekt/ 

 

Record /′re•kɔ:d/

 

Project /′prɒ•ʤekt/  

 

NOTE: There is no rule about which syllable is stressed. You have to learn how each word is pronounced. You can use your dictionary in this regard. This means the observation above has exceptions. 

 

Consider words like approach, alarm, address, police etc. 

 

        These words have two syllables and they can be used as nouns or verbs. In both cases the second syllable is stressed. This means the words are pronounced in the same way whether they are nouns or verbs. 

 

    I.        Approach /ə′prəʊʧ/noun

 

Which approach did you apply when dealing with the problem? 

 

  II.        Approach /ə′prəʊʧ/verb 

 

You need to approach the issue cautiously. 

 

Alarm /ə′lɑ:rm/

 

Address /ə′dres/

 

Police /pə′li:s/

 

        The word contact can be a noun or a verb. In both cases the first syllable is stressed. 

 

1)  Contact /′kɒntᴂkt/ noun

   The substance may itch if it comes into contact your skin.

 

2)  Contact /′kɒntᴂkt/ verb 

I tried to contact him but he was not available.

 

 

In both cases the word is pronounced in a similar manner. 

 

 

·         Can you pronounce the following words? 

·         On which syllable does the stress fall? 

 

a.           Advice noun

b.          Advise verb 

 

a.           Practice noun

b.          Practise verb 

 

Some words have more than 2 syllables for example; 

 

a.           Beau•ti•ful /bju:tɪfl/

b.          In•tell•i•gent /ɪn•tel•ɪ•ʤent/

c.           Ba•na•na /bənɑnə/ 

d.           In•for•ma•tion /in•fə′meɪʃᵊn/

 

The stressed syllables are usually longer, higher and louder. 
In 3 syllable words the stress can be in the beginning, middle or end. 
Beginning 
Examples;
Anyone
Beautiful
Possible 
Robbery 
 
Middle 
Computer
Tomorrow
Expensive 
 
End 
Afternoon
Employee
Japanese 

 

In words with 4 or more syllables the stress almost always falls in the middle of the word, not at the beginning or end. 
Photographer 
Information
 
If a word ends in -tion, -sion, -cian, the stress is always on the second to last syllable. 
 
Situation
Revision 
Electrician 
 
The same rule applies to words ending in -ic 
 
Economic
Dramatic
Atlantic 
 
When a long word is made from a shorter roof word, the stress is almost always on the root word. 
 
Comfort
Comfortable 
Discomfort 
Uncomfortable
Comfortably 
 
The stress can move when you make a longer word from a root word. 
 
Photograph
Photography
Photographic 

 
KCSE SAMPLE QUESTIONS ON STRESS

KCSE ENGLISH 2022 PAPER 1 

Underline the stressed part in each of the following words in bold. (3 marks) 

(i)After the accident he was an in.val.id for nearly six months.

(ii)Compare and con.trast the two oral narratives.

(iii)Ask the secretary to or.gan.ise for tea and snacks.

KCSE ENGLISH 2021 PAPER 1 

Underline the stressed part of the word in bold in the sentences below. (4 marks)

(i) She is unwell now but I know she will manage. 

(ii) We need to register all students before the end of the day.

(iii) Remember we have an agreement. 

(iv) The convict pleaded for leniency.

KCSE ENGLISH 2020 PAPER 1 

3 (c) For each of the following words, underline the part that is stressed. (3 marks)

advice

tribalism 

surprise 

KCSE ENGLISH 2017 PAPER 1 
3 (d) For each of the following words, underline the part that is stressed. (5 marks) 
Mis•use 
Pro•se•cute
Dis•like 
A•buse 
A•gree•ment 
 
KCSE ENGLISH 2013 PAPER 1 
3 (c) For each of the following words underline the part that is stressed. 
Colleague 
Register 
Approach 
Alarm 
Abuse                                                                                                  

KCSE ENGLISH 2009 Paper 1 

The underlining indicates the stressed word in the sentences below. Briefly explain what each sentence means. (3 mks)

i) I wrote the love poem for you

ii) I wrote the love poem for you

iii) I wrote the love poem for you.

KCSE ENGLISH 2007 Paper 1 

(c) In the words given below, underline the part that should be stressed

(i)  suc.cess

(ii) chal.lenge

(iii) ad.vice

(iv) ap.proach

                            

Click here for the next lesson on intonation 

Which words do you find difficult in relation to stress?