The Secrets of Sentence Stress in American English: Part 2
Learning to use correct sentence stress in American English is difficult, but it is so important if you want to be easily understood when you speak.
If you are not using the correct sentence stress, your listener’s brain has to work harder to figure out what you are saying. Since our brains don’t like to work any harder than they have to, this can be really frustrating for everyone involved in the conversation.
But, don’t worry! We have some really useful tips and tricks to share that will improve your spoken English immediately.
The basic rhythm of English is an alternating pattern of strong and weak syllables. In Part One of this lesson, we learned where to use stressed or strong syllables in American English. In Part Two, we will learn where to put the weak syllables. To make a syllable weak, you reduce or cut the vowel and rush through it.
In American English, we tend to weaken, reduce, or rush:
- Articles: “an” “a” “the”
- Pronouns: like “we” “I” and “my”
- The common words: “and” “are” “as” “at” “because” “can” “for” “or” “to” “your”
Be sure to check out both parts of this lesson to improve your use of sentence stress in American English. The techniques that you will learn and practice will completely transform the rhythm of your spoken English and make you sound confident and articulate in any speaking situation.
