Rules and Practices: Using suffixes to Predict Stress

Rule 6-1

The same stress pattern applies to all the suffixes below.

Listen the words and try to identify the pattern.

a. -ic
- scientific
- organic
- chaotic
b. -ify
- solidify
- personify
- humidify
c. -graphy
- photography
- geography
- biography

d. -ical
- technological
- economical
- theoretical
e. -ogy
- anthropology
- psychology
- biology
f. -ious, -eous
- mysterious
- suspicious
- courageous
g. -ial
- financial
- official
- commercial

h. -ity
- minority
- fatality
- possibility
i. -tion, -sion
- distribution
- addiction
- permission
j. -ian
- technician
- physician
- Canadian

RULE: Stress the syllable immediately before the suffixes above.

Examples: optiMIStic, huMANity, paTHOlogy, vegeTARian, inDUStrial

Rule 6-2

Listen to the words with suffixes like -ee, -eer, -ese, -esque, -ique, and -ette. What is the stress pattern?

volunteer -- a volunteer effort
referee -- referee the game
diskette -- a high-density diskette
Japanese -- Japanese students

RULE: Stress the syllable with each of the suffixes above.

Examples: engiNEER, pictuRESQUE, techNIQUE

Exercise 1

Part A:

Fill in the blanks in the chart by adding suffixes -ese, -ic, -ify, -ity, -tion, -ian, or -ogy. Underline the syllables (or vowels) with the primary stresses. Compare your answers with those of your classmates.

Say the words with the speaker or take turns saying the words with a partner. Nod your head slightly as you say the stressed syllables.

	Noun	Verb	Adjective
Examples: real	reality	realize	realistic
economy	economy economics	economize	economic economical
electric		electrify	electronic electrical
major		X	major
method	methodology	X
person	personality		personal
photograph		photograph	photographic
Japan		X
period	periodical periodicity	X
philosophy	philosopher	philosophize
mechanism		mechanize	mechanical
specify	specification	specify
	statistics strategy	strategic	strategically

Citations: Note: Exceptions to Rules 6-1 and 6-2: (1) -ic -- POlitics, RHEtoric, CAtholic; (2) -sion -- TElevision; (3) --comMITtee, COFfee

Part B

Because stressed syllables have clear vowels, this is a good time to review the Vowel Chart in Appendix C. Each vowel sound on the chart has a number. Use the number to identify the vowel sound in each stressed syllable in Exercise 1.

Rule 6-3

Approximately 1,000 English verbs end in the -ate suffix. These verbs are common in scientific, academic, and business contexts, and they have predictable stress patterns. Listen to the audio below and say these verbs. Can you identify a pattern?

exaggerate -- associate -- procrastinate
innovate -- integrate -- subordinate

RULE: Stress the second syllable before the suffix

Examples: CALculate, MOtivate, conGRAtulate

Many learners of American English stress the -ate syllable. However, the second syllable before the suffix should be stressed (EStimate), even if an -ed (EStimated) or -ing (EStimating) is added. The stress shifts to another syllable only when -ion is added (estiMAtion). With practice the pattern will become natural and automatic.

Repeat these examples:

EStimate -- EStimated -- EStimating -- EStimator -- (estiMAtion)
INdicate -- INdicated -- INdicating -- INdicator -- (indiCAtion)
coORdinate -- coORdinated -- coORdinating -- coORdinator -- (coordiNAtion)

A Helpful Hint

Sometimes -ate words are adjectives, nouns, and adverbs, as well as verbs.

Adjective with -ate: that's an accurate description
Noun with -ate: She's a graduate of M.I.T.
Adverb with -ate: Send the order immediately.

In adjectives, nouns, and adverbs with -ate, the stress pattern is the same, but -ate sounds like the word it.

NOUN (-ate = it)
Here is a DUplicate of the letter
He's going to give us an EStimate

VERB (-ate = ate)
I need to DUplicate the letter.
He's going to EStimate the cost.

Exercise 2

Practice saying the words in the chart below. Check your pronunciation with the audio in the chart, or have a partner monitor you. L-e-n-g-t-h-e-n the stressed syllables and just be relaxed about the unstressed syllables.

Then say the words in unison with your class. Snap your fingers on the stressed syllables.

PLAY ALL

Verb	Add -ed	Add -ing	Noun/Adj	Add -ion
1. graduate	GRAduated	GRADuating	GRAduate	graduAtion
2. associate	associated	associating	associate	association
3. demonstrate	demonstrated	demonstrating	X	demonstration
4. differentiate	differentiated	differentiating	X	differentiation
5. separate	separated	separating	separate	separation

Well Said, L Grant, 2nd Ed.