University of Gothenburg
Karin Axelsson
Exercise: word stress
Mark the stress in the words below by putting a stress mark before the stressed syllable. All these
words follow one of the stress rules in the course book (p. 95–98) – explain which rule you have
applied in each case.
1. c y l i n d e r
2. a n a l y s is
3. s i g n i f i c a n t
4. r o u t i n e
5. s c i e n t i f i c
6. c e r e m o n y
7. p e r f o r m
8. b e n e f i c i a l
9. d e m o c r a c y
10. t r i u m p h
11. u n i q u e
12. t e m p o r a r y
13. r e s e m b l e
14. s c i s s o r s
15. t e n d e n c y
16. V i c t o r i a n
17. r e f e r e e
18. c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
19. g e n e r o s i t y
20. d e t e c t
University of Gothenburg
Karin Axelsson
Exercise: word stress KEY
1. ˈc y l i n d e r
2–3 syllables: normally stress on the first syllable
2. a ˈn a l y s i s
more than 3 syllables: stress on the third syllable from the end
3. s i g ˈn i f i c a n t
more than 3 syllables: stress on the third syllable from the end
4. r o u ˈt i n e
word with a Romance (French) suffix: stress on the suffix
5. s c i e n ˈt i f i c
word with the Latin suffix -ic: stress on the syllable before the suffix
6. ˈc e r e m o n y
words ending in -ry or -ny: stress on the fourth syllable from the end
7. p e r ˈf o r m
word with a prefix: usually stress on the syllable after the prefix
8. b e n e ˈf i c i a l
word with the Latin suffix -ial: stress on the syllable before the suffix
9. d e ˈm o c r a c y
more than 3 syllables: stress on the third syllable from the end
10. ˈt r i u m p h
2–3 syllables: normally stress on the first syllable
11. u ˈn i q u e
word with a Romance (French) suffix: stress on the suffix
12. ˈt e m p o r a r y
word ending in -ry or -ny: stress on the fourth syllable from the end
13. r e ˈs e m b l e
word with a prefix: usually stress on the syllable after the prefix
14. ˈs c i s s o r s
2–3 syllables: normally stress on the first syllable
15. ˈt e n d e n c y
2–3 syllables: normally stress on the first syllable
16. V i c ˈt o r i a n
word with the Latin suffix -ian: stress on the syllable before the suffix
17. r e f e ˈr e e
word with a Romance (French) suffix: stress on the suffix
18. c l a s s i f i ˈc a t i o n
word with the Latin suffix -ion: stress on the syllable before the suffix
19. g e n e ˈr o s i t y
more than 3 syllables: stress on the third syllable from the end
20. d e ˈt e c t
word with a prefix: usually stress on the syllable after the prefix
University of Gothenburg
Karin Axelsson
from Övnings- och kompletteringskompendium, p. 17:
Thermometer
Philosopher
Philosophical
Abbreviate
Moustache
Penelope
Arabic
Protect
Beneficial
Beneficent
Political
Politician
Maple
Lapel
Poem
Cousin
University of Gothenburg
Karin Axelsson
from Övnings- och kompletteringskompendium, p. 17:
Therˈmometer
antepenultimate
Phiˈlosopher
antepenultimate
Philoˈsophical
-ical (Suffix)
Abˈbreviate
prefix
Mousˈtache
-romance suffix
Peˈnelope
antepenultimate
ˈArabic
Exception
Proˈtect
prefixed verb
Beneˈficial
-ial (suffix)
Beˈneficent
antepenultimate
Poˈlitical
-ical (suffix)
Poliˈtician
-ian (suffix)
ˈMaple
two syllables
Laˈpel
-el (Romance suffix)
ˈPoem
two syllables
ˈCousin
two syllables