Correct word stress in English

	Essential ENGLISH GRAMMAR Word stress in English
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Word stress in English can seem to be a very complicated issue. Where do we put the accent on multi-syllable words in English? English people don't often make mistakes, but they never learn any rules! Obviously therefore there must be some fairly simple basic "rules" that apply .

An introduction to English grammar

SIX BASIC RULES

to help you place the tonic accent on multi-syllable words in English.

These rules do not cover all the aspects of word stress in English; but they do cover the large majority of plurisyllabic words in the language.

The problem: should you say: difficult or difficult or difficult?
Here are the main principles that determine how words are stressed or accentuated in English.

A word is normally stressed on the first syllable, unless there is a reason to put the stress somewhere else.
The "reasons" are either suffixes (like -ity or -ion) or prefixes (like con-, dis-, ex- or in-).
If the suffix (ending) starts with the letters i or u this will affect the position of stress in a word.
Sample suffixes: -ion, -ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity, etc.
The stress comes on the syllable before the suffix.
Examples: Atlantic, comic, sufficient, explanation, residual.
There are only a very few exceptions to this rule.
Other suffixes do not affect the stress of a word.
Sample suffixes: -al, -ous, -ly, -er, -ed, -ist, -ing, -ment
Examples: Permanent, permanently, develop, development
► Prefixes are not normally stressed in two-syllable words, except in some nouns or adjectives.
Examples: To ex'pand, to de'fend; but an 'expert, a report.
Bisyllabic nouns starting with a prefix need to be learned individually.

► Prefixes are usually stressed in three-syllable nouns and adjectives, but not always stressed in verbs.
Examples: 'Continent, 'incident, 'exercise;
to con'sider, to en'visage but to 'indicate
(All three syllable verbs ending in -ate are stressed on the first syllable).
Rule 3 takes priority over all others, notably when a "rule 3 ending" is followed by a "rule 4 ending",
Examples : perpetually, deliciously, conditional, conditioner, illusionist.

This list of rules is not complete, but it does explain where to place the main accent in the majority of words in English.

Can you designate the tonic syllable (main stress) in these words which all obey the rules?

Britain, England, Edinburgh, region, regional, economic, to complain, community, to refuse, considering.

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► L'accentuation des mots en anglais

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