VEPT Word Stress and Syllable Emphasis — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the word 'photography', which syllable receives the primary stress?
- PHO-to-gra-phy (first syllable)
- pho-TO-gra-phy (second syllable) (Correct answer)
- pho-to-GRA-phy (third syllable)
- pho-to-gra-PHY (fourth syllable)
Correct answer: pho-TO-gra-phy (second syllable)
In 'photography,' the stress falls on the second syllable: pho-TO-gra-phy. Words ending in -ography consistently follow this pattern, placing stress on the syllable before the suffix.
Question 2: The word 'record' can function as either a noun or a verb. Which statement correctly describes its stress pattern?
- Both the noun and verb stress the first syllable: RE-cord
- Both the noun and verb stress the second syllable: re-CORD
- As a noun, stress is on the first syllable (RE-cord); as a verb, stress shifts to the second (re-CORD) (Correct answer)
- As a noun, stress is on the second syllable (re-CORD); as a verb, stress shifts to the first (RE-cord)
Correct answer: As a noun, stress is on the first syllable (RE-cord); as a verb, stress shifts to the second (re-CORD)
Many two-syllable English words that serve as both nouns and verbs follow this pattern: the noun stresses the first syllable (RE-cord) and the verb stresses the second (re-CORD). Other examples include 'permit,' 'present,' and 'protest.'
Question 3: In natural English speech, which types of words typically receive the strongest stress?
- Articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (in, on, at)
- Pronouns (he, she, they) and auxiliary verbs (is, are, have)
- Content words such as main verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs (Correct answer)
- Conjunctions (and, but, or) and articles (a, the)
Correct answer: Content words such as main verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs
English is a stress-timed language in which content words — nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs — carry the primary stress because they carry the core meaning. Function words like articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and auxiliary verbs are typically unstressed and often reduced in natural speech.
Question 4: Which of the following words has the primary stress on the THIRD syllable?
- ALphabet
- comPUter
- engiNEER (Correct answer)
- POlicy
Correct answer: engiNEER
'Engineer' is stressed on the third syllable: en-gi-NEER. 'Alphabet' is stressed on the first (AL-pha-bet), 'computer' on the second (com-PU-ter), and 'policy' on the first (PO-li-cy).
Question 5: A speaker says: 'I didn't say SHE took the money' — with heavy stress on 'she.' What does this emphasis most likely imply?
- The speaker is uncertain about who took the money
- The speaker is implying that someone other than 'she' took the money (Correct answer)
- The speaker is strongly confirming that 'she' definitely took the money
- The speaker wants to change the topic of conversation
Correct answer: The speaker is implying that someone other than 'she' took the money
In English, contrastive stress changes the implied meaning of a sentence. By stressing 'SHE,' the speaker signals a contrast — they did not accuse that particular person, implying someone else was responsible. Stress on other words would shift the implied meaning differently.
Question 6: Which of the following words is correctly stressed on the SECOND syllable?
- MAnager
- diRECtor (Correct answer)
- DOCument
- CALendar
Correct answer: diRECtor
'Director' is stressed on the second syllable: di-REC-tor. 'Manager' (MA-na-ger), 'document' (DOC-u-ment), and 'calendar' (CAL-en-dar) are all stressed on the first syllable.
VEPT Word Stress and Syllable Emphasis
In the word 'photography', which syllable receives the primary stress?