Did you know that English is a “stressed” language? Unlike many other languages, when we speak English, some words are spoken (and heard) more loudly than others. Not every word is given equal time in our conversations. And guess what? It’s the small words that are often not stressed and because of this they are not heard. If we don’t hear them, how do we know when to use them? If they are unstressed, are they as important as stressed words?
Good questions – keep reading!
Here’s an example:
Our office is very friendly. We all have a great time. Even though we work hard, we are always laughing and sharing little jokes. I hope you’ll decide to join our team.
The bold words (usually the nouns, verbs and adjectives) are stressed and emphasised. The others are unstressed and spoken quickly and softly.
Here’s a YouTube clip that explains this well: https://youtu.be/sUMM5eCvi8w
An english tutor can work with you to “script” sentences by marking the stressed and unstressed words and then practicing this with you. Often a tutor will record and play back the sentences so you can hear yourself. Ouch!!! This can be uncomfortable but necessary. With practice, your words will flow more naturally and sound more like everyday English.
Different stresses can also change the meaning. The words are the same, but the meaning is different each time a different word is stressed.
Can you pick the difference in the sentence below?
*see Answers at the end of the blog
But, small words do matter
Students (clients) will ask, is there a difference? Does it matter if I use agree to or agree with? The answer is yes and yes. There is a difference and it does matter. We call these dependent prepositions and we use them with nouns, adjectives and verbs. We agree to something (action) and we agree with (someone).
It all makes sense when it’s explained.
Small words can be more important than the big words in these situations. Learning how and when to use them definitely helps with writing and speaking. English speakers will notice these small word errors. Learn how to fix them with help from your tutor.
“The warrior knows that the most important words in all languages are the small words.” – Paulo Coehlo
At ESL Tutoring we tailor our lessons for your particular needs. As every person is unique, so the lessons we prepare are also different for each individual student. At ESL Tutoring, we don’t just go from one chapter to another in a text book. We teach you what YOU want to know and our tutors put in the extra effort to help you achieve your goals. We don’t just teach English, we live English! Contact us to learn more about what we can offer. You can also email us on info@esltutoringservices.com or call 1300 137 186.
**Answers**
Me, not anyone else.
I believe he should.
Michael, not anyone else.
That car, not another one.
