Practice Materials for Intonation and Rhythm

The collection of sentences in this material can be used for additional exercises for practicing intonation and rhythm in simple, short sentences. You can listen to similar sentences in Listening for Falling and Rising Intonation (AmE), Listening for Intonation in Questions and Answers (AmE) and Listening for Sentence Stress and Rhythm (BrE) in the section Phonetics and then practice using the same intonation, sentence stress and rhythm in the sentences below.

The sentences in this material are divided into groups according to the type of sentence (statement, question, etc.) and its intonation (falling, rising). (See Basic Word Order in the section Grammar and Intonation and Tones in the section Phonetics.)

For easier practicing, the groups are divided into small subgroups containing sentences that have the same number of stresses and are similar in rhythm. Stresses and tones are indicated before the stressed syllables. For example: 'Betty 'lives in \London. Are you 'ready to /start? The falling tone and the rising tone indicate the strongest stress in the sentence.

Note: Content words (key words) are always stressed; function words are not stressed. Usually stressed words: nouns, main verbs, adjectives, adverbs; contracted negative forms of auxiliary and modal verbs; question words. Usually unstressed words: auxiliary and modal verbs; personal pronouns; prepositions, conjunctions, articles. (See Introduction and Glossary of Terms and Sentence Stress and Rhythm in the section Phonetics.)

Подборку предложений в данном материале можно использовать для дополнительных упражнений для отработки интонации и ритма в простых, коротких предложениях. Похожие предложения можно прослушать в материалах Listening for Falling and Rising Intonation (AmE), Listening for Intonation in Questions and Answers (AmE) и Listening for Sentence Stress and Rhythm (BrE) в разделе Phonetics и затем тренироваться использовать такую же интонацию, ударение и ритм в предложениях ниже.

Предложения в данном материале разделены на группы по типу предложения (утверждение, вопрос и т.д.) и его интонации (понижение, повышение). (См. материалы Basic Word Order в разделе Grammar и Intonation and Tones в разделе Phonetics.)

Для облегчения упражнений, группы разделены на маленькие подгруппы, содержащие предложения, которые имеют одинаковое количество ударений и похожи по ритму. Ударения и тоны указаны перед ударными слогами. Например: 'Betty 'lives in \London. Are you 'ready to /start? Тон понижения и тон повышения указывают самое сильное ударение в предложении.

Примечание: Значимые слова (ключевые слова) всегда ударные; служебные слова не ударные. Обычно ударные слова: существительные, основные глаголы, прилагательные, наречия; сокращённые отрицательные формы вспомогательных и модальных глаголов; вопросительные слова. Обычно неударные слова: вспомогательные и модальные глаголы; личные местоимения; предлоги, союзы, артикли. (См. материалы Introduction and Glossary of Terms и Sentence Stress and Rhythm в разделе Phonetics.)

Statements: Falling intonation

Statements with one stress

I \know.
I \see.
She \works.
We \laughed.
It \stopped.

I \like it.
He'll \buy it.
I \saw her.
She \knows him.

She \did it.
We \found it.
She has \done it.
We have \found it.

I can \drive.
We must \leave.
It may \change.
You should \call her.

She is \young.
He is \here.
I'm \tired.
They are \busy.

It is \late. It's \late.
It's \funny.
It's \interesting.
It's \difficult.
It's im\portant.

It's a \book.
It's a \present.
It's \John. It's \me.
It's \mine. It's \his.
It's \yours.

Statements with two stresses

'People \work.
'Anna works.
'Birds \fly.
'Time \flies.

'Tom is \reading.
'Mike is \sleeping.
The 'car \stopped.
The 'weather has \changed.

'Peter is a \doctor.
'Mary is a \teacher.
'Lena is my \daughter.
The Sun is a star.
'Penguins are \birds.

'Monkeys are \funny.
'Bananas are \yellow.
'Cars are ex\pensive.
The 'book was \interesting.

'Max is at \home.
'Tanya is at \school.
'Rome is in \Italy.

'This is \Alex.
'That's his \room.
'These are my \pictures.

I 'lost my \key.
We 'eat a \lot.
I 'need some \help.
He 'likes to \read.
This 'bag is \mine.

We 'did it \yesterday.
She 'said it \loudly.
He 'knows her \brother.
Her 'name is \Anna.
My 'children are \sleeping.

I 'live in \Moscow.
I 'work in a \library.
She 'works in an \office.
They 'went to a \restaurant.

I 'want to \see you.
I'm 'glad to \see you.
I 'want to \buy it.
I 'have to \do it.
I'd 'like to \visit them.

She 'sent him a \letter.
He 'gave me a \present.
He 'asked us to \visit him.

She'll be 'back in an \hour.
She will 'see him to\morrow.
There is a 'bakery on \Green Street.

She 'likes \tea.
I 'want \coffee.
He 'left \early.

It's 'time to \go.
It's 'ten o'\clock.
It's 'seven \thirty.

She is 'very \pretty.
He is 'very \tall.
He is 'always \busy.
He has 'no \time.

It's a 'good \book.
It's an 'interesting \film.
It's a 'beautiful \town.
It's a 'difficult \task.

I 'don't \know.
She 'can't \swim.
He 'isn't \busy.
It 'doesn't \matter.

I 'don't \want it.
He 'doesn't \have it.
I 'don't \want to.
I 'don't re\member.
I 'don't under\stand it.

He 'doesn't \know them.
She 'hasn't \seen him.
He 'didn't \find it.
We 'couldn't \find her.
You 'shouldn't \do it.

It's 'not \funny.
It's 'not \interesting.
It's 'not \difficult.
It's 'not \easy.
It's 'not im\portant.

She is 'not \busy.
They are 'not \interesting.
I'm 'not \sleeping.

Statements with three stresses

'Betty 'lives in \London.
'Victor 'works at a \bank.
I 'haven't 'read this \book.
We 'went to the 'theater \yesterday.

'Children 'like to \play.
The 'boy is 'reading a \book.
The 'weather is 'going to \change.

'Lena is 'studying \English.
The 'children are 'playing in the \park.
My 'sister 'works as a \teacher.

'Mike 'likes \tea.
'Kate 'bought a \book.
'Mary 'wants \coffee.
'Tom 'writes \stories.
'Anna 'teaches \English.

'Paris is a 'large \city.
'Moscow is the 'capital of \Russia.
'Ella is a 'good \student.
'Elephants are 'strong \animals.

I 'bought a 'loaf of \bread.
I 'have a 'younger \sister.
He 'wants to 'buy a \car.
She 'works in a 'small ho\tel.
He 'knows it 'very \well.

He 'sent a 'letter to \Mike.
He 'gave the 'book to \me.
He 'brought a 'present for \Anna.

He is 'five 'years \old.
It is 'three 'meters \long.
She was 'two 'hours \late.

I 'don't 'know his \name.
He 'doesn't 'want to \go.
We 'didn't 'do it \yesterday.
She 'didn't 'tell me a\bout it.

'Tony 'hasn't \called me.
'Peter 'doesn't \live here.
'Lena 'wasn't in\vited.
'Bats are 'not \birds.

Statements with four stresses

She 'wants to 'buy a 'new \car.
He 'wrote the 'letters 'very \quickly.
The 'teacher 'told her 'students a \story.

His 'train will ar'rive at 'four o'\clock.
He 'put his 'bag on the 'table in the \hall.
Their 'new 'house is near a 'large \park.

She has 'swimming 'lessons 'twice a \week.
He 'plays 'tennis 'every \Saturday.
'Tom is 'leaving for 'Rome to\morrow.

I'm 'going to 'visit my 'relatives on \Sunday.
He 'usually 'goes for a 'walk after \breakfast.
He is 'reading an 'interesting 'book about \animals.

Statements with five stresses

'Alex 'wrote the 'letters 'very \quickly.
'Victor is 'going to 'London 'next \month.
'Tanya is 'reading the 'book you 'brought \yesterday.

Ma'ria 'wants to 'buy a 'new \car.
My 'friends 'play 'tennis 'every \Saturday.
I 'think the 'first 'question is 'very \easy.

I 'don't 'want to 'watch this 'film a\gain.
We are 'not 'going to 'visit our 'relatives on \Sunday.

Special questions: Falling intonation

'What is his \name?
'Where does he \live?
'When did you \call him?
'Why are you \late?

'What is your \name?
'What's your \name?
'Where are you \from?
'Where do you \live?
'What do you \do?

'What did you \buy?
'What did she \say?
'Where did he \go?

'Where have you \been?
'Where are your \friends?
'When will he re\turn?

'When did it \happen?
'Why was she \angry?
'Where can I \find her?

''What are you \doing?
'When are you \leaving?
'Where are you \going?
'Why are you \laughing?

'What did you \tell them?
'Who did you \talk to?
'What are you \looking for?
'What are you \talking about?

'Who 'brought the \books?
'Who 'wants to \go?
'Who 'told you a\bout it?

'What \happened?
'Who \did it?
'Who \said it?

'What \is it?
'What \are they?
'Who \is he?
'How \are you?

'Where \is it?
'Where \are they?
'Where \were you?
'When \was it?

'How 'far \is it?
'How 'much \is it?

'How \old are you?
'How \far is it?
'What \time is it?

'What's the \matter?
'What's the \problem?
'What's the \difference?

'What is \this?
'What is \that?
'What are \these?

'Whose 'book is \this?
'Whose 'bag is \that?

'How 'much is this \bag?
'How 'much does it \cost?
'How 'much do I \owe you?

'How 'old is your \brother?
'How 'often do you \go there?
'How 'long did you \stay there?
'What 'time should I \call you?

'What are you 'going to \do?
'What are you 'going to \have?
'Where are you 'going to \be?
'What are you 'doing to\morrow?

'How 'many 'stories have you \read?
'How 'much 'money have you \lost?

Friendly interest, politeness: Rising intonation

'What is your /name?
'Where do you /live?
'What did she /say?
'Where have you /been?

'What are you /reading?
'When is your /birthday?

'How /much is it?
'How /far is it?

'How 'much is this /bag, please?
'When is the 'next /train, please?
'Where is the 'nearest /bank, please?

General questions: Rising intonation

Do you 'visit them /often?
Have you 'seen my /keys?
Are you 'ready to /start?

Have you 'read this /book?
Have you 'heard the /news?
Do you 'need some /help?
Do you 'have a /pen?
Are these 'books /yours?

Have you 'seen my /glasses?
Do you 'speak /English?
Do you 'want to /go there?
Will you 'see them to/morrow?
Would you 'like some /coffee?

Is 'Mike your /friend?
Is their 'house /large?
Is your 'sister a /journalist?
Is this 'book /interesting?

Are you 'going to 'wash the /car?
Is he 'planning to 'visit /Paris?
Does this 'bus 'go to the /airport?

Did 'Anton 'call you /yesterday?
Was 'Lena at 'home on /Sunday?
Are the 'students 'ready for the /test?

Does she /work?
Will they /come?
Do you /know him?
Do you /like it?
Have you /read it?
Did he /call you?

Can you /drive?
Can you /do it?
Shall I /read?
Should I /call him?

Am I /late?
Is he /here?
Is it /far?
Is it /true?
Is it /new?

Are you /sure?
Are you /tired?
Are you /hungry?
Are you /serious?
Are they /ready?

Is it /raining?
Is he /sleeping?
Are you /listening?

Is she a /doctor?
Is he a /teacher?
Is this /Main Street?
Are you a /student?
Are they /students?

Requests: Rising intonation

Could you 'give me a /pen, please?

Could you 'open the /window, please?
Would you 'mind /helping me?

May I 'speak to /Ella, please?
Could I 'speak to /Michael, please?
Can I 'borrow your /dictionary, please?

Could you /help me, please?
Can you /help me, please?

Alternative questions: Rising and falling intonation

Do you 'want /coffee or \tea?
Does he 'speak /English or \German?

Would you 'like /coffee or \tea?
Are you 'studying /English or \French?
Does he 'play /football or \basketball?

Is he /young or \old?
Were they /happy or \angry?
Is she a /doctor or a \teacher?

Do you 'have a /dog or a \cat?
Would you 'like an /apple or a \pear?

Did she 'go to /Italy or \France last year?
Did you 'go to the /cinema or to the \theater yesterday?

Will you 'come 'back at /five or at \six?
Does she 'read 'books in the /morning or at \night?
Will you 'try to 'do it to/day or to\morrow?

Tag questions: Falling or rising intonation

It's a 'beautiful \town, \isn't it?
She \knows him, /doesn't she?

'Nice \weather, \isn't it?
You \live here, \don't you?
You \know him, \don't you?
You can \drive, \can't you?
He will \help them, \won't he?

It's a 'nice \day, \isn't it?
She 'speaks \English, \doesn't she?

'Peter 'gave you a \present, \didn't he?
'Nina and 'Helen are \friends, \aren't they?

You 'don't \know them, \do you?
They 'haven't 'found it, \have they?
You 'weren't \late, \were you?
I 'shouldn't \do it, \should I?

It's 'not 'too \late, \is it?
It's 'not 'too \far, \is it?

'Nice \weather, /isn't it?
You \live here, /don't you?
You can \drive, /can't you?
You \know it, /don't you?
He will \help them, /won't he?

It's a 'nice \day, /isn't it?
It's a 'beautiful \town, /isn't it?
She 'speaks \English, /doesn't she?

You 'weren't \late, /were you?
It's 'not 'too \far, /is it?

Commands: Falling intonation

\Stop it! 'Sit \down.
'Close your \books.

'Come \in.
'Go \home.
'Stop \talking.
'Hurry \up!

'Open your \books.
'Listen to the \story.
'Wait for your \turn.
'Go to your \room.

'Tell me the \truth.
'Give me your \hand.
'Do it your\self.
'Ask him for \help.

'Turn 'left at the \bank.
'Go 'back to the \hospital.
'Write your 'name on this \line.

'Sit \down, please.
'Open the \door, please.
'Close the \window, please.
'Write your \name, please.

Requests: Rising intonation

'Come \in, /please.
'Come \here, /please.
'Sit \down, /please.

'Close the \window, /please.
'Tell me your \name, /please.
'Ask him to \call me, /please.

/Please 'come /in.
/Please 'sit /down.
/Please 'come /here.

Exclamatory sentences: Falling intonation

'What a 'wonderful \present!
'What a 'beautiful \day!
'What a 'wonderful sur\prise!

'How 'well she \sings!
'How 'beautiful her \voice is!

'What a \pity!
'What a \waste!
'What a re\lief!
'What a sur\rprise!

'How \nice of you!
'How \strange it is!

'How \nice!
'How \strange!

'That's \great!
'That's \wonderful!
'That's a \lie!

It's 'good to \see you!
It's an 'excellent oppor\tunity!
I'm 'so \happy!

\Great!
\Wonderful!
Hel\lo!

It's \great!
It's \wonderful!
It's \terrible!
We \did it!

'Good \morning!
'Good after\noon!

'Good-/bye!

Direct address: Rising intonation

/Peter, can you /help me?
'Mrs. /Smith, 'this is 'Mary \Brown.

/Ella, can you /help me?
/Lena, are you /there?
/Tony, 'where \are you?

/Tom, could you /help me, please?
'Mrs. /Green, can I /talk to you, please?

/Mary, 'this is my 'son \Anton.
/Max, 'this is my \friend, 'Tom \Brown.
/Peter, 'this is Ma\rina, a \friend of 'mine.

'Mr. /Trent, your 'papers are \ready.
/Sir, you 'dropped your \pencil.
/Nelly, I'd 'like to \see you.
/Alex, 'read this \letter, please.

Hel\lo, /Tanya.
\Hi, /Jim.
'Good-\bye, /Tom.
'Good \morning, /Jane.

'Good \morning, 'Jane.
'Good \evening, 'sir.
'See you to\morrow, 'Nick.

Enumerating: Rising intonation

/One, /two, /three, /four, \five.
She 'bought /bread, /cheese, /oranges, and \apples.

/Six, /seven, /eight, /nine, \ten.

/One, /two, /three, /four, /five, /six, /seven, /eight, /nine, \ten.

I 'bought /bread, /cheese, and to\matoes.
We 'need /paper, /pens, and \pencils.

I 'saw /Tom, /Mary, /Anna, and \Victor.
They 'visited /France, /Spain, /Italy, and \Greece.

/Anton, /Nick, /Anna, and /Lena are my \students.

I'd 'like /orange juice, /omelet, /toast, /honey, and 'green \tea, please.

Responses

\Yes.
\No.
\Certainly.
\Sure.
\Thank you.
\Sorry.

Of \course.
'All \right.
'Very \well.
'No \problem.
'That's \true.

I \think so.
You are \welcome.
You are \right.
I'd be \glad to.
I'm \sorry.

'Thank you 'very \much.

\Yes, I \am.
\Yes, I \do.
\Yes, he \has.
\Yes, they \will.
\Yes, you \can.

\No, I \don't.
\No, I \haven't.
\No, he \won't.
\No, you \shouldn't.

\Yes, \certainly.
\Yes, of \course.

\Yes, 'please.
\No, \thank you.

I \can.
She \is.
He \will.
You \should.
I \can't.
He \didn't.

Oh, /really?
Ex/cuse me?
I'm /sorry?