1. Sentence Stress

2. What is sentence stress? Please think about this question, or you may also discuss it with your neighbours; and then we ’ ll have a brainstorm.

3. Sentence Stress (Concept) Sentence stress is the relative degree of force given to different words in a sentence. 一个连贯的句子中，有的词重读，有的词不 重读。

4. Category Which words are usually stressed in a sentence? What part of speech do they belong to? Now please read the passage below, and try to mark down words that you think should be stressed.

5. Reading a passage A private conversation Last week I went to the theatre. I had a very good seat. The play was very interesting. I did not enjoy it. A young man and a young woman were sitting behind me. They were talking loudly. I got very angry. I could not hear the actors. I turned round. I looked at the man and the woman angrily. They did not pay any attention. In the end, I could not bear it. I turned round again. “ I can ’ t hear a word, ” I said angrily. “ It ’ s none of your business, ” the young man said rudely. “ This is a private conversation. ”

6. Reading a passage A private conversation Last week I went to the theatre. I had a very good seat. The play was very interesting. I did not enjoy it. A young man and a young woman were sitting behind me. They were talking loudly. I got very angry. I could not hear the actors. I turned round. I looked at the man and the woman angrily. They did not pay any attention. In the end, I could not bear it. I turned round again. “ I can ’ t hear a word, ” I said angrily. “ It ’ s none of your business, ” the young man said rudely. “ This is a private conversation. ”

7. Content words are usually “ stressed ” Content Words Numerals: one, two, first, second Interrogatives: who, when, why Demonstratives: this, that, these Adverbs Adjectives Verbs Nouns

8. Function words are usually “ unstressed ” Function Words Common Conjunctions: and,but,that,as Relative Pronouns: who,that,which Possessive Adjectives: my, his, her Personal Pronouns: I, me, he, him Prepositions: to, of, in Articles: a, an, the

9. General rules for sentence stress In all utterance, not all words are stressed. In general, content words are stressed, but function words are left unstressed, unless the speaker wishes to call special attention to them.

11. Homework Please practise exercises about ‘sentence stress’ in the textbook, and try to make your reading as accurate and fluent as possible.

12. Thank you