intonation rules in English language

1. INTONATION

2. LET’S CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES
FIRST:
Question: What’s the difference between the
following two sentences sound?
A. He is going tomorrow.
B. He is going tomorrow?
Answer: The melodies of the two sentences are
different.
The melody of sentence A drops at the end,
making it a statement.
The melody of sentence B rises at the end,
making it a question.

3.  In languages like English, we call these sentence
melodies intonations.
 All spoken languages have intonations.
 Intonation describes how the voice rises and falls in
speech.

4. The two main patterns of intonation in English are:
 Falling Intonation
 Rising Intonation

5. FALLING INTONATION
 Falling intonation describes how the voice falls on
the final stressed syllable of a phrase or a group of
words.
 A falling intonation is very common in wh-
questions.

6.  Where’s the nearest post office?
 What time does the film finish?

7.  We also use falling intonation when we say
something definite or when we want to be very
clear about something.
 I think we are completely lost.
 OK, here’s the magazine you wanted.

8. RISING INTONATION
 Rising intonation describes how the voice rises at
the end of a sentence.
 Rising intonation is common in yes-no questions.

9.  I hear the Health Centre is expanding. So, is
that the new doctor?
 Are you thirsty?

10. What is the intonation pattern in the following sentences?
1. Did you find the classroom?
a) Falling intonation – yes/no questions
b) Rising intonation – yes/no questions
c) Falling intonation – statement
Answer: b rising intonation – yes/no questions

11. 2. We need some more paper.
a) Falling intonation – statement
b) Falling intonation – list
c) Falling intonation – yes/no questions
Answer: a falling intonation – statement

12. 3. Is it going to rain tomorrow?
a) Falling intonation – wh-question
b) Rising intonation – yes/no statement
c) Falling intonation – statement
Answer: b rising intonation – yes/no statement

13. LET’S PRACTISE THE INTONATION
PATTERNS WITH THIS DIALOGUE.
Danny: Have you heart the news? Mark won the
Poetry Contest!
Sarah: No, I haven’t. What did he receive as a prize?
Danny: He got $1000 in cash!
Sarah: Really? That’s wonderful!
Danny: Not only that. He will tour to Barcelona for a
week with his family.
Sarah: That’s great! I will tell Mark to bring me a hat.
Danny: And I want him to buy me some masks.
Sarah: Look Danny, Mark is coming!