LISTENING NO. 15: Adrenaline Rush

PRONUNCIATION NO. 15: Long Words

English is typically a monosyllabic language. That is, the majority of the words in the lexicon have 1 syllable. This accommodates well to the English rhythm, with strong and weak words. Strong words are those words that bear stress, as the words "boy", "there", "when", "sun", and "rose" in the sentence:

The boy was there when the sun rose

So, when we read this sentence, we emphasize the words in boldface.

Primary and Secondary Stress

When polysyllabic occurs, it may be difficult to know where to place the stress. An important reason for this is that English long words may have 2 stresses: primary and secondary. For example, the word "international" has 2 stresses:

- Primary stress on "na"

- Secondary stress on "in"

Below you will find more examples of stress on English words:

abo'lition

po'lice

se'mester

ma'lignancy

'theater

fan'tastic

These aforementioned words have only one stress. When that happens, that stress is always the "primary stress". The words below have 2 stresses: primary (') and secondary (,)

i,nocu'lation

,engi'neer

,fore'knowledge

par,tici'pation

'passion,flower

par,ticu'larity

Suffixes may attract stress

Sometimes, the stress can be predicted. For example, words ending with suffixes such as -tion, -ic, -ical, -ically, -tial, -atory, -city, -ese, -ee have primary stress on the syllable immediately before the suffix:

abo'lition

po'litically

la'boratory (vs. 'lavatory)

coa'lition

po'lemically

in'formative

fan'tastic

i'nitial

su'perlative

po'lemic

po'tential

,elas'ticity

po'litical

,influ'ential

,elec'tricity

po'lemical

pre'paretory

Chi'nese

,emplo'yee

Notice that when the primary is at the end, preceded by 2 syllables (as in "electricity" and "elasticity") the secondary stress is placed 2 syllables before.

So, suffixes can help us choose primary stress, because this primary stress goes precisely before the suffix. However, suffixes are not always there to help. See:

com'ponent

'category

,trans'parent

'secondary

'enterprise

pa'rameter

Stress in compound words

A compound word is a word made up of 2 words that come together to create a new meaning.

An important thing to remember is that compound words usually have the stress on the first part of the compound. But there may exist exceptions to this rule.

'nut,cracker

'news,paper

'flowerpot

'ladybug

'eyebrow

'bedtime

'handbag

'lipstick

'birthday

'scarecrow

'butterfly

'New York

Adjective + Noun

When we have an adjective and a noun, we stress the noun with the primary stress, the adjective with the secondary stress:

,nice'man

,clean'stress

,black'board

,green'house

This is, in fact, how we distinguish between:

'black,board (in a classroom) from a ,black'board (in a box)

'green,house (to grow flowers in cold wheather) from ,green'house (the house is painted in green)

Stress shift

English is so strict about strong and weak forms, that sometimes, the original stress of a words shifts. Remember the sentence:

The boy was there when the sun rose

We have 5 strong words, more or less distributed across the sentence.

WEAK-STRONG-WEAK-STRONG-STRONG-WEAK-STRONG-STRONG.

This distribution is almost perfect: the sentence sounds slightly like an accordion, with ups and downs. It is usually impossible to have the perfect rhythmical sentence in English, with at least one weak syllable in between strong syllables. However, the language tries hard to respect its rhythm. In fact, when too many strong words go together, stress can be shifted to avoid not having weak syllables in between strong syllables. For example, the word Chinese has 2 different stress positions depending on the context (and the contact with a strong, stressed syllable):

The waiters were all Chinese

We went to the Chinese restaurant

While "Chinese" is stressed on the second syllable in the first sentence (this is the usual position), it is stressed on the first syllable in the second sentence. The reason is that "restaurant" is also stressed on the first syllable, and keeping the last syllable of "Chinese" stressed would break English rhythm.

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Weekly Schedule 25-27 May

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VOCABULARY NO. 14: A verb Thesaurus: think

EXPLANATION

Verbs of thinking (also called thinking verbs) are those verbs that relate to cognitive actions. The most common verb of all is to think. But, can you "think" of other cognitive verbs?

Below you will find a short list with some of those verbs together with their definitions:

think verb (CONSIDER)

/θɪŋk/ (thought, thought)

[I or T] to believe something or have an opinion or idea

[+ (that)] I think (that) I've met you before.

I don't think Emma will get the job.

"Do you think (that) you could get me some stamps while you're in town?"

[+ noun or adjective] Salmon used to be thought expensive/thought a luxury.

[+ to infinitive] He was thought to have boarded the plane in New York.

What did you think of the film?

What do you think about this latest government scheme?

I think it is important to learn English.

consider verb (OPINION)

/kənˈsɪd.ər //-ɚ/

[T often + object + (to be) + noun or adjective] to believe someone or something to be, or think of them as

He is currently considered (to be) the best British athlete.

We don't consider her suitable for the job.

[passive + object + to infinitive] It is considered bad manners in some cultures to speak with your mouth full of food.

[R] I consider myself lucky that I only hurt my arm in the accident.

Do you consider him a friend of yours?

[+ (that)] She considers (that) she has done enough to help already.

contemplate verb

/ˈkɒn.təm.pleɪt//ˈkɑːn.t ̬əm-/ [Ior T]

to spend time considering a possible future action, or to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way

[+ -ing verb] I'm contemplating going abroad for a year.

You're not contemplating a change of job, are you?

It's too awful/horrific/dangerous to contemplate.

brood verb

/bruːd/ [I]

to think for a long time about things that make you sad, worried or angry

I wish she wouldn't sit brooding in her room all day.

reflect verb (THINK)

/rɪˈflekt/

[I] formal to think carefully, especially about possibilities and opinions

The manager demanded time to reflect (on what to do).

[+ that] She reflected that this was probably the last time she would see him.

deem verb

/diːm/ [T not continuous] formal

to consider or judge something in a particular way

[+ object + noun or adjective] The area has now been deemed safe.

[+ noun or adjective] We will provide help whenever you deem it appropriate.

[+ object + to infinitive] Anyone not paying the registration fee by 31 March will be deemed to have withdrawn from the scheme.

ponder verb

/ˈpɒn.dər//ˈpɑːn.dɚ/ [I or T] formal

to think carefully about something, especially for a noticeable length of time

She sat back for a minute to ponder her next move in the game.

muse verb

/mjuːz/ [I] formal

to think about something carefully and for a long time

I began to muse about/on the possibility of starting my own business.

believe verb

/bɪˈliːv/ [T]

to think that something is true, correct or real

Strangely, no one believed us when we told them we'd been visited by a creature from Mars.

[+ that ] He believes that all children are born with equal intelligence.

She's arriving tomorrow, I believe.

"Is she coming alone?" "We believe not/so (= We think she is not/is)."

[+ object + to infinitive] I believe her to be the finest violinist in the world.

[+ object + adjective] All the crew are missing, believed dead.

not believe a word of it

to not believe that something is true

He told me she was just a friend, but I don't believe a word of it!

believe it or not (also would you believe it?)

said when telling someone about something that is true, although it seems unlikely

He's upstairs doing his homework, believe it or not.

if you believe that, you'll believe anything!

informal something that you say to emphasize that something is obviously not true

He said the car in front backed into him, and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!

make believe

to pretend or imagine

Let's make believe (that) we're pirates.

imagine verb

/ɪˈmædʒ.ɪn/ [T]

•

to form or have a mental picture or idea of something

Imagine Robert Redford when he was young - that's what John looks like.

[+ (that)] Imagine (that) you're eating an ice cream - try to feel how cold it is.

[+ question word] Can you imagine how it feels to be blind?

[+ -ing verb] She imagined herself sitting in her favourite armchair back home.

They hadn't imagined (= expected) (that) it would be so difficult.

I can't imagine (= I really don't know) what he wants from us.

•

to believe that something is probably true

[+ (that)] I imagine (that) he's under a lot of pressure at the moment.

I don't imagine (that) they have much money.

"Will they change it?" "I imagine so."

•

to think that something exists or is true, although in fact it is not real or true

"Did you hear a noise?" "No, you're imagining things/No, you must have imagined it."

I've never heard her criticize you - I think you imagine it.

•

used to express shock or surprise, often at someone else's behaviour

She got married at 16! Imagine that!

[+ -ing verb] Imagine spending all that money on a coat!

guess verb

/ges/ [I or T]

•

to give an answer to a particular question when you do not have all the facts and so cannot be certain if you are correct

I didn't know the answer, so I had to guess.

On the last question, she guessed right/wrong.

[+ question word] Guess when this was built.

[+ (that)] I guessed (that) she was your sister.

She asked me to guess her age.

I guessed the total amount to be about £50,000.

•

to give the correct answer or make the correct judgment

[+ question word] I bet you can't guess how old he is.

She guessed the answer first time.

"You've got a new job, haven't you?" "Yes, how did you guess?"

Guess what? informal

used before telling someone something interesting or surprising

Guess what? We won the match 4-0.

I guess

informal used when you believe something is true or likely but are not certain

[+ (that)] I guess (that) things are pretty hard for you now.

hope verb

/həʊp//hoʊp/ [I or T]

to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might

I'm hoping for an interview next week.

[+ (that)] She's hoping (that) she won't be away too long.

I hope (that) she'll win.

We have to hope and pray (that) the operation will go well.

[+ to infinitive] They hope to visit us next year.

It's good news, I hope.

"Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?" "I hope not/so".

suppose verb (THINK LIKELY)

/səˈpəʊz//-ˈpoʊz/

•

[T] to think that something is likely to be true

[+ (that)] I couldn't get any reply when I called Dan, so I suppose(that) he's gone out.

He found it a lot more difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be.

[+ (that)] Do you suppose (that) Gillian will marry him?

It is widely supposed (that) the minister will be forced to resign.

[+ to infinitive] We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was Swiss.

Her new book is supposed to be (= generally people think it is) very good.

•

[+ (that)] used in making polite requests

I don't suppose (that) you could/I suppose you couldn't lend me £5 till tomorrow, could you?

•

[+ (that)] used to show that you think something is so, although you wish that it were not

I suppose (that) all the tickets will be sold by now.

•

[+ (that)] used when you are annoyed

I suppose (that) you're going to be late again.

I suppose (that) you think that's funny. Well, I certainly don't.

•

used to show unwillingness to agree

"Can I go out tonight?" "Oh, I suppose so."

[+ (that)] I don't agree with it, but I suppose (that) it's for the best.

PHRASAL VERBS

figure out sth/sb or figure sth/sb out

to understand something or someone, or to find the answer to something by thinking carefully
I can't figure out why he did it. [often + question word]
I've never been able to figure Sue out.

think over sth or think sth over

to think carefully about an idea or plan before making a decision
She said she'd think it over and give me an answer next week.
I need to think the matter over carefully.

come up with sth

to think of or to suggest a plan or idea, a solution to a problem, or an answer to a question
A team of advertisers is hard at work trying to come up with a slogan for the product.
Experts have failed to come up with an explanation of why the explosion happened.

to get or produce something which someone needs or which they have asked you for
Each member of the expedition needs to come up with £3,000 to fund their trip.
We need someone to create a new software program. Can Bob come up with the goods? (= create what we want)

go over sth

to talk or think about something in order to explain it or make sure that it is correct
We don't have much time so I'll quickly go over the main points of the document.
I'd like to go over your essay with you when you've half an hour to spare.

to think about something that has happened or something that was said
You can go over the same old things again and again in your head.
In bed last night I kept going over what you'd said to me at lunch.

to examine a building
The police had been over his apartment looking for drugs.

think up sth or think sth up

to create an idea or plan by using your imagination and intelligence
I really don't want to go tonight and I'm trying to think up an excuse.
It's one of those competitions where you have to think up a slogan for a product.

think out/through sth or think sth out/through

to think carefully about something you are planning to do and to consider the possible results of it
He obviously hadn't thought it out properly.
It sounds like a good idea but we need to spend some time thinking it through.

shut out sth or shut sth out

to prevent a sound or light from being heard or seen
Could you close the curtains and shut out some light?
These windows shut out most of the traffic noise.

to stop yourself from thinking about something or from feeling an emotion, usually because it causes you to suffer
You've got to deal with these feelings - you can't just shut them out.
There are memories so painful that you have to shut them out.

dream up sth or dream sth up

to think of an idea or plan, especially one that is very imaginative or not really possible
They've asked a marketing company to dream up a name for their latest product.
She's always dreaming up crazy schemes to get rich quick.

toy with sth

to think about an idea in a way that is not very serious, often not making a decision about it
Dom and I are toying with the idea of going to Mexico this year. [usually in continuous tenses]

to keep touching an object, moving it from one position to another, usually while you are thinking about something else
She sat quietly for a moment, toying with her glasses.

PRACTICE

http://a4esl.org/q/h/lb/pvthinking.html