Some important rules guiding the use of
stress in English language
1. Stress the last syllable in most two-syllable verbs and prepositions
A preposition is a word that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence,
providing information about time, place, direction, cause, manner, and other relationships. When
pronouncing a proposition or verb containing two syllables, the stress typically falls on the
second syllable.
This stress rule helps distinguish these words from two-syllable nouns and adjectives, which
generally stress the first syllable. Notice where the stress is placed in the following words:
Verbs:
to reLAX
to deCIDE
to rePEAT
to deFEND
to beGIN
to reBEL
Prepositions:
aBOVE
aLONG
beTWEEN
beSIDE
beNEATH
2. Stress the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ic, -sion, and -tion
In English, words that end in the suffixes -ic, -sion, and -tion have the stress on the penultimate
(second-to-last) syllable.
This rule particularly applies to many nouns and adjectives and it creates a predictable syllable
stress pattern that makes pronunciation easier and more natural.
, Words ending in -tion:
eduCAtion
inforMAtion
eloCUtion
Words ending in -sion:
deCIsion
reVIsion
conFUsion
Words ending in -ic:
draMATic
geoGRAPHic
enerGETic
3. Stress the syllable before the suffixes -cial, -ity, -ious, and -eous
As with with the last syllable stress rule and many other stress rules for stressed syllables in
English, stress patterns can be automatically defined when you identify certain clusters.
With words ending with -cial, -ity, -ious, and -eous, the stress falls on the syllable preceding the
suffix.
Words ending with -eous:
ouTRAGeous
advanTAGeous
conTAGeous
Words ending with -ious:
amBITious
CURious
deLICious
stress in English language
1. Stress the last syllable in most two-syllable verbs and prepositions
A preposition is a word that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence,
providing information about time, place, direction, cause, manner, and other relationships. When
pronouncing a proposition or verb containing two syllables, the stress typically falls on the
second syllable.
This stress rule helps distinguish these words from two-syllable nouns and adjectives, which
generally stress the first syllable. Notice where the stress is placed in the following words:
Verbs:
to reLAX
to deCIDE
to rePEAT
to deFEND
to beGIN
to reBEL
Prepositions:
aBOVE
aLONG
beTWEEN
beSIDE
beNEATH
2. Stress the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ic, -sion, and -tion
In English, words that end in the suffixes -ic, -sion, and -tion have the stress on the penultimate
(second-to-last) syllable.
This rule particularly applies to many nouns and adjectives and it creates a predictable syllable
stress pattern that makes pronunciation easier and more natural.
, Words ending in -tion:
eduCAtion
inforMAtion
eloCUtion
Words ending in -sion:
deCIsion
reVIsion
conFUsion
Words ending in -ic:
draMATic
geoGRAPHic
enerGETic
3. Stress the syllable before the suffixes -cial, -ity, -ious, and -eous
As with with the last syllable stress rule and many other stress rules for stressed syllables in
English, stress patterns can be automatically defined when you identify certain clusters.
With words ending with -cial, -ity, -ious, and -eous, the stress falls on the syllable preceding the
suffix.
Words ending with -eous:
ouTRAGeous
advanTAGeous
conTAGeous
Words ending with -ious:
amBITious
CURious
deLICious
