The basic rules of sentence stress are :
- content words are stressed
- structure words are unstressed
- the time between stressed words is always the same
Examples of content words and are structure words :
Content words - stressed
| The main idea | Example |
| main verbs | SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY |
| nouns | CAR, MUSIC, MARY |
| adjectives | RED, BIG, INTERESTING |
| adverbs | QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER |
| negative auxiliaries | DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T |
Structure words - unstressed
| Words for correct grammar | Example |
| pronouns | he, we, they |
| prepositions | on, at, into |
| articles | a, an, the |
| conjunctions | and, but, because |
| auxiliary verbs | do, be, have, can, must |
Exceptions
The above rules are for "neutral" or normal stress. But sometimes we can stress a word that would normally be a structure word, for example to correct information. For example :
"They've been to Mongolia, haven't they?"
"No, THEY haven't, but WE have.
Note also that when "be" is used as a main verb, it is usually unstressed (even though it is a content word).