LITERACY PHONICS BASIC 5

 B5 Phonics 

Topic: Primary Stress

 Introduction:  A syllable is the breaking down of words into smaller units. E.g con-gra-tu-la-tion (5syllables); con-duc-tor (3 syllables). 

Primary Stress is the syllable of a word that is pronounced louder and longest than other syllables. The syllable with the highest stress is written in capital letter but in the dictionary, it takes an apostrophe (') . 

E.g con gra tu la tion= con gra tu 'LA tion

Con duc tor =con DUC tor. 

EXAMPLES 

A. All monosyllabic words (1 word) are stressed. E.g 'go, 'bag, 'eye...

B. Most bisyllabic words are stressed in the first syllable. E.g 'NE phew, 'BIS cuit, 'PEO ple.

C. A word ending with "tion" has its primary Stress on the syllable before the "tion". E.g com mu ni 'CA tion , in for MA tion... 

D. When 2 words are joined to form a word, the stress falls on the first word. E.g 'GLASS cup, 'TEA cup, 'BLACK board. 

E. Abundance= a 'BUN dance

F. graduation = gra 'DUA tion

G. table = 'TA ble

H. res pon si bi li ty = res pon si 'BI li ty

I. Pho to gra phy = pho TO gra phy. 

Exercise

Pronounce carefully and write out the syllable having the primary Stress in capital letter. Remember, the loudest syllable takes the primary Stress. 

1. Doctor 2. Come 3. Personification 4. Fantastic. 5. Dictation 6. Madam 7. Glasscup 8. Possibility 9. University 10. Advantage.