Word Stress 3
Using Suffixes to Predict Stress

Word Stress 3

Using Suffixes to Predict Stress

Suffixes, or word endings, can change where the stress is placed in a word.

Listen to how the stress changes in the following word by adding the suffixes -graphy and -ic.

photograph

photography

photographic

Common Suffixes

Listen to the following words to see if you can predict the stress pattern:

Scientific

Solidify

Photography

Technological

Biology

Mysterious

Financial

Fatality

Distribution

Technician 

Rule: Stress the syllable before the suffixes: -ic, -ify, -y, -ical, -ogy, -ious, --ial, -ity, -tion, -ian

(Additionally, stress the syllable before the suffixes: -omy, -edy, -istry, -metry, -ive, -ily, -eous, -able, -ible, -ogist, -ophy, -cian

 Examples: auTONomy, COMedy, CHEMistry, trigoNOMetry, HIDeous, CAPable, EDible, biOLogist, philOSophy, pediaTRIcian)

More Examples:

-ity

Major stress is always on the syllable before the suffix -ity

-ic

Major stress is always on the syllable before the suffix -ic

Verbs Ending in -ate

Approximately 1,000 English verbs end in the -ate suffix. These verbs are common in scientific, academic, and business contexts.

Listen to the following words. Can you figure out the rule for word stress in verbs that end in -ate?

illustrate

calculate

graduate

refrigerate

hesitate

investigate

negotiate

The Rule: Stress the second syllable before the suffix.

Examples: MOtivate, conGRAtulate, CALculate

Many learners of English stress the the -ate syllable. Even if the you add an -ed (EStimated) or -ing (EStimating) suffix, you wouldn't change the stress pattern. The only time you change the stress pattern is when you add an -ion suffix.

Listen to the examples:

Tip

Sometimes -ate words are adjectives, nouns and adverb.

adjective: That's an accurate description.

Noun: She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins

Adverb: Send the letter immediately.

The stress pattern is the same, but the -ate is pronounced differently. In nouns, adjectives and adverbs, the -ate is pronounced like "it".

Words with suffixes -ee, eer, -ese, -esque, -ique, and -ette

Listen to the following words. What stress pattern do you hear?

(guarantee) I guarantee you will be happy.

(volunteer) I volunteer at the hospital.

(Japanese) I have two Japanese students

The Rule:

Stress the syllable with each of the suffixes above.

Examples: enginEER, techNIQUE, picturESQUE

 Now you:

Dowload the chart and complete. Highlight the stressed syllables and submit through the Assignments tool in CE6. Ask yourself, does the vowel sound change when the stress changes?

Example: