Changing Everything

 

Fourth error is bad pronunciation and bad use of the stress

In this error, people who are learning English do not know how the stress changes the meaning of a word depending on its ubication.

The stress is the force ubicated in a specific syllable. Sometimes, words change if you put the stress in the wrong syllable.

Due to in Spanish we have a specific element called “tilde” that indicate where the position of that force goes, English learners can be mistaken at the moment to pronounce the words correctly.

This is the case of the homograph words. In these cases, the stress is very important because it gives the meaning to those words. For example, depending in its stress ubication, words can become a adjective, noun or verb.

Present – the stress in the first syllable becomes this word in a noun.

Present – the stress in the second or the last syllable becomes this word in a verb.

*This ubication usually applies for almost all the homograph words.

What to do to improve this error?

The solution is kind of easy. You must save in mind that the stress in the first syllable of a homograph word generally turn it into a noun or adjective. otherwise, if the stress goes at the end of the homograph word becomes it into a verb.

Also, when you were in a conversation, you should be aware of the context in what you are using that word. Pay attention and remark the stress of that word in order to have a good communication.

Let’s practice!

Identifying the stress and how the word changes.

Instructions: according to the statement above, you will underline the syllable where the stress is ubicated. All the following words are homographs, therefore depending on its stress syllable; they can be a noun, an adjective or a verb. Remember, the word with the stress in the first syllable are usually noun. When the stress goes in the last syllable, the words become into a verb.

·         For example:

·         When someone gives something to a person how is loved.

·         Present

1.     An offensive action.

Insult

2.      To buy or bring something from another country.

Import

3.      A substance taken from a plant or a flower.

Extract

4.      When something is becoming larger in amount

Increase

5.      It is a material or thing that you can manage.

Object

6.      To allow something.

Permit

7.      The action to improve or get a developed state.

Progress

8.      The action to store a sound in an electronic device.

Record

9.      When you say that you won’t accept something.

Refuse

10.  A person believed to have committed a crime.

Suspect

Exercise #2

In this activity, you will choose the word that has the right syllable colored according to the statement above.

For example:

When you are showing something in front of your class.

Present           /           Present

 

A.      When you are going to say something to someone else

Insult               /          Insult

B.      Products that were brought from another country.

Import             /          Import

C.      The action to remove or take out something.

Extract                        /          Extract

D.     A rise in the amount or size of something

Increase                      /          Increase

E.      When you express opposition to an opinion

Object             /          Object

F.       A valid document that you can use in a formal situation

Permit             /          Permit

G.     Movement to an improved or more developed state.

Progress          /          Progress

H.     A piece of information related to an event that is written on paper.

Record             /          Record

I.        When a material is useless.

Refuse             /          Refuse

J.        When you think that someone could commit a crime.

Suspect           /          Suspect