English Online
with Speak Method


speakmethod

                         
Online Classes Pronunciation Facts R, Th, T and other sounds 500 Words Practice
Local Classes Business Communication TOEFL Prep ESL Stories
Contact us Vowel Sounds
Grammar and Idioms Learn by Language

Learn English Pronunciation: Rhythm and Stress

WATCH  VIDEO

Rule 3: You want to stress, then pause, stress, then pause.  

Pausing gives your listener time to fully hear what you say. This is a standard strategy for speaking clearly. You will not sound natural if you speak so quickly that people cannot register your words. Also, you will be less able to hear yourself. This may cause you to have continued problems with important sounds, like R, L, TH or the vowels.

Pause before or after a stressed word. Also pause before connecting words like "and," "or," "but," "that," "which" and others. You can pause before prepositions as well. Grammatically a preposition begins a prepositional phrase, a separate thought or idea. Stress the noun in the phrase and say the preposition lightly. As before, the slash (/) indicates a pause.


Let me introduce you to my friend, Jeff.

            introduce                    friend, / Jeff.
Let me                  you / to my


Can we please discuss the changes they made to this contract?

             please /                   changes /                                contract?
Can we             discuss the                   they made / to this

Learn more about why and when to pause.
     


Continue with the 5 Steps:

Rhythm and Stress: Rule 1
Rhythm and Stress: Rule 2
Rhythm and Stress: Rule 4
Rhythm and Stress: Rule 5



Continue Learning


Sign in to Speak Method

The American Accent

Pronunciation of 500 Words

Classes Online

Continue Learning


American Vowel Sounds

750 Business Words

English Grammar and Idioms

ESL Stories



Speakmethod.com: English Pronunciation Learning, Seattle, WA