Sentence Stress in English Pronunciation

英文發音的句子重讀

Hi, I’m Kae.

嗨，我是Kae。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn about sentence stress in English.

在本節課裡，您可以學到英文的 句子重讀。

Stress is very important for your English pronunciation.

重讀對您的英文發音是很重要的。

There are many different types of stress in English, and stress is used in many different

英文裡有很多不同類型的 重讀，重讀的使用

ways.

方法很多。

But wait a minute, what is stress?

但是，稍等一下，重讀是什麽？

Stress means that you pronounce some syllables more strongly than others.

重讀意思是您唸一些音節時比 其他的要唸得更重。

‘More strongly’ means you pronounce these syllables more loudly, more clearly, and more

“唸得更重”意思是您要更大聲、 更清晰並且更慢地唸這些

slowly.

音節的音。

Pronouncing sentence stress correctly will make a big difference to your English pronunciation.

正確地唸句子的重讀，您的 英文發音有很大的差別。

You’ll immediately sound clearer and more natural when you speak English.

在您講英文時，您立刻會聽起來 更清晰、更自然。

Let’s start by looking at sentence stress in more detail.

我們從看一個句子重讀的更多細節開始。

Look at a sentence:

看一個句子：

How about we go for a coffee this afternoon?

How about we go for a coffee this afternoon?

In this sentence, there are two kinds of words; let’s call them content words and grammar

在這個句子裡，有兩種單字； 我們稱它們為實字

words.

和虛字。

Content words give you the meaning of the sentence.

實字給您句子的意思。

The content words here are go, coffee, this and afternoon.

在這裡，實字是go、coffee、this 和afternoon。

If you don’t hear these words, you won’t understand the sentence.

如果您沒有聽到這些單字， 您不會理解句子。

Grammar words don’t carry meaning.

虛字不帶有意思。

They’re grammatically necessary; they connect the content words together.

它們是文法的需要；它們把 實字連在一起。

Think about it this way: if someone comes up to you and says, “Go coffee this afternoon?”

用這個方式考慮它：如果某人走進您 並說， “Go coffee this afternoon?”

you can understand what they mean, even if it sounds a bit weird.

您可以理解它們是什麽意思，即使 那聽起來有點奇怪。

So, why are we talking about this?

所以，爲什麽我們談論這個？

Aren’t we supposed to be talking about sentence stress?

我們不是應該要談論句子的重讀嗎？

The difference between content words and grammar words is the foundation of sentence stress.

實字與虛字之間的區別是句子 重讀的基礎。

Content words are usually stressed, and grammar words are usually unstressed.

實字通常是重讀的，而虛字 通常是不重讀的。

Listen and try to hear the stress: how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

聆聽並且試著聽出重讀： how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

Listen again: how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

再聽一遍： how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

Can you read the sentence with the stress?

您可以用重讀來唸句子嗎？

Repeat after me: how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

跟著我重複： how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

Do it one more time: how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

再多做一次： how about we GO for a COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON?

Let’s look at one more example sentence:

我們來再看一個例句。

My phone’s broken, so I’m going to buy a new one.

My phone’s broken, so I’m going to buy a new one.

Which words do you think are content words, and which words are grammar words?

您認為哪一個單字是實字， 哪一個是虛字？

Before you answer, you should know one important point.

在回答之前，您應當知道一個重點。

Sentence stress is flexible, and the line between content words and grammar words isn’t

句子重讀是靈活的，實字和虛字 之間的線不是固定的，所以，我們告訴

fixed, so the answers we show you are just the most probable ones; there are other possibilities.

您的回答只是最有可能的一個； 有其他的可能性。

So, think about your sentence, and which words you think are content words or grammar words.

所以，想想您的句子，您認為哪一個 單字是實字或是虛字。

Pause the video if you want more thinking time!

如果您想要更多的思考時間， 暫停影片！

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Here’s our suggestion.

這裡是我們的建議。

Again, think about it like this: if you hear the content words, you can understand the

同樣，像這樣想想：如果您聽到 實字，您可以理解句子的

meaning of the sentence: “phone broken, going buy new one.”

意思： “phone broken, going buy new one.”

If you hear only the grammar words, it doesn’t make any sense at all: “my so I’m to a.”

如果您僅僅聽到句子的虛字，那根本 沒有任何意義： “my so I’m to a.”

By the way, this idea can also really help your English listening.

順便說一下，這個概念也真正地 幫助您的英文聽力。

You can see that you don’t need to hear every word to understand the meaning of a

您可以看到您不需要聽出每一個 單字來理解一個句子

sentence.

的意思。

If you focus on listening to the stressed words, you can understand someone’s meaning,

如果您關注在聽出重讀的單字， 即便您沒有聽出不重讀的

even if you don’t hear the unstressed grammar words.

虛字，您也能理解某人的意思。

Anyway, let’s practice this sentence.

好吧，我們來練習這個句子。

Can you say the sentence with the stress?

您可以用重讀來唸句子嗎？

Repeat after me: my PHONE’S BROKEN, so i’m GOING to BUY a NEW ONE.

跟著我重複：my PHONE’S BROKEN, so i’m GOING to BUY a NEW ONE.

Try once more: my PHONE’S BROKEN, so i’m GOING to BUY a NEW ONE.

再來一遍： my PHONE’S BROKEN, so i’m GOING to BUY a NEW ONE.

Okay, now you know the basics about sentence stress.

好，現在您知道關於句子重讀的 基礎知識了。

Let’s see what you can do!

我們看看您可以做什麽。

Look at three sentences:

看三個句子：

Could you get some bread from the bakery on your way here?

Could you get some bread from the bakery on your way here?

I heard that the weather’s going to be bad tomorrow.

I heard that the weather’s going to be bad tomorrow.

He has no idea what he wants to do after he graduates.

He has no idea what he wants to do after he graduates.

So, first of all, pause the video, and find the stressed words in these three sentences.

那麼，首先，暫停影片，找出這三個 句子裡的重讀單字。

Take as much time as you need, and start again when you’re ready.

用您需要用的時間，當您 準備好了，再開始。

Okay?

好了嗎？

Let’s look at our suggested answers.

我們看看我們建議的答案。

Remember that other answers are possible:

記住其他的答案是有可能的：

Next, let’s try reading the sentences together.

接下來，我們試著一起來唸句子。

Repeat after me, and pay attention to the stress: could you GET some BREAD from the

跟著我重複，注意重讀： could you GET some BREAD from the

BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

Try it once more: could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

再試一次：could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

Let’s do the next one: i HEARD that the WEATHER’S going to be BAD TOMORROW.

我們做下一個： i HEARD that the WEATHER’S going to be BAD TOMORROW.

One more time: i HEARD that the WEATHER’S going to be BAD TOMORROW.

再一次： i HEARD that the WEATHER’S going to be BAD TOMORROW.

Let’s try the third sentence: he has NO IDEA WHAT he WANTS to DO AFTER he GRADUATES.

我們試第三個句子： he has NO IDEA WHAT he WANTS to DO AFTER he GRADUATES.

Again: he has NO IDEA WHAT he WANTS to DO AFTER he GRADUATES.

再一次： he has NO IDEA WHAT he WANTS to DO AFTER he GRADUATES.

How was that?

那怎樣？

Easy?

容易嗎？

Difficult?

難？

Remember that you can go back and review this section as many times as you need to.

記住您可以隨時按您的需要 回頭複習這個單元。

You can also adjust the video speed to make it easier or more difficult.

您也可以調整影片的速度來 讓唸它更容易或更難。

For example, if you find it difficult, watch this section again at point seven five or

例如，如果您覺得它難，再用0.75 或0.7的速率來看

point five speed.

這個單元。

Practice at a lower speed until you can pronounce the stress easily.

用低速來練習它，直到您可以 輕鬆地唸重讀。

Then, try again at full speed!

然後，再試一下全速。

Now, to pronounce sentence stress well, you also need to pay attention to the unstressed

現在，要唸好句子重讀，您也 需要注意句子裡不

words in a sentence.

重讀的速度。

Why is this?

這是什麽？

Here’s a very important point about sentence stress, or any stress.

這裡是與句子重讀或不重讀有關的 一個非常重要的重點。

Stress is about contrast.

重讀是對比的。

You heard before that stress means pronouncing some syllables more loudly, more clearly,

您之前聽到重讀意味著與其他的 相比，要更大聲、更清晰並且

and more slowly than others.

更慢地唸一些音節。

That means that stress is relative.

那意味著重讀是相對的。

To pronounce stress clearly, you need a clear contrast between your stressed and unstressed

要清晰地唸重讀，您需要在您的 重讀音節和不重讀音節之間

syllables.

有一個清晰的對比。

So, when you’re practicing sentence stress, you should pay equal attention to the unstressed

所以，當您在練習句子重讀時， 您應當同等地留意

words.

不重讀的單字。

Let’s look at an example, using a sentence you saw before:

我們來看一個例句，使用您之前 看到的一個句子：

could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

You need to pronounce the stressed words more strongly, and you need to pronounce the unstressed

您需要更重地唸重讀的單字，您 需要用較低的音量以及一個

words at a lower volume and a higher speed.

更快的速度來唸不重讀的單字。

Often, unstressed words have a weak pronunciation.

通常，不重讀的單字有一個弱發音。

Knowing how to pronounce weak forms is also important if you want to pronounce sentence

如果您想清晰地唸句子的 重讀，知道怎麼唸弱音

stress clearly.

也是重要的。

Let’s try something.

我們再練習一些。

Read the sentence.

讀例句。

Make the stressed words as clear as possible.

盡可能地重讀單字更清晰。

Exaggerate the stress a little bit.

誇張一點唸重讀的單字。

Pronounce the unstressed words as fast as you can.

盡可能快地唸不重讀的單字。

Try to get a really clear contrast between the stressed and unstressed words.

試著獲得重讀和不重讀單字之間 真正清晰的對比。

Listen first: could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

先聽：could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

Now you try: could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

現在您試一下：could you GET some BREAD from the BAKERY on your WAY HERE?

Let’s do one more example, with a new sentence.

我們用新句子再做一個例句。

Look at the sentence:

看句子：

i HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING from them SINCE their WEDDING.

i HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING from them SINCE their WEDDING.

Try reading the sentence.

試著讀句子。

Again, focus on the contrast between stressed and unstressed syllalbles: i HAVEN’T HEARD

同樣，關注在重讀和不重讀音節 之間的對比：i HAVEN’T HEARD

ANYTHING from them SINCE their WEDDING.

ANYTHING from them SINCE their WEDDING.

It’s worth spending some time practicing this contrast: if you can pronounce the contrast

花些時間練習這個對比是值得的： 如果您可以清晰地唸出重讀

between stressed and unstressed sounds clearly, your English will sound much better and more

和不重讀聲音之間的對比， 您的英文會聽起來更好

natural.

和更自然。

We were exaggerating the contrast slightly, so that you could hear it clearly.

我們稍微誇大了對比，這樣您 能清楚地聽出它。

It’s fine to do this while you’re practicing!

在您練習時做這個是不錯的！

You can go back and review this section, or review the previous section and focus on contrast

您可以回頭複習這個單元，或者 複習之前的單元，關注

in your pronunciation.

您的發音裡面的對比。

What’s next?

接下來呢？

Well, you heard before that sentence stress is flexible.

好，我們之前聽到句子重讀是靈活的。

Let’s talk more about that!

我們來談論那個。

Hello, what can I get you?

Hello, what can I get you?

One chocolate and raspberry muffin and a small americano with milk, please.

One chocolate and raspberry muffin and a small americano with milk, please.

Sorry, you said a CHOCOLATE and raspberry muffin?

Sorry, you said a CHOCOLATE and raspberry muffin?

That’s right!

That’s right!

Here you are!

Here you are!

I said a chocolate RASPBERRY muffin.

I said a chocolate RASPBERRY muffin.

Oh, I am sorry!

Oh, I am sorry!

I thought you said chocolate and STRAWBERRY.

I thought you said chocolate and STRAWBERRY.

Also, is there milk in this coffee?

Also, is there milk in this coffee?

Did you want MILK?

Did you want MILK?

I thought you said an americano with SUGAR!

I thought you said an americano with SUGAR!

No, with MILK!

No, with MILK!

I’ll make you a new one.

I’ll make you a new one.

One cappuccino with milk coming up.

One cappuccino with milk coming up.

No, not CAPPUCINO!

No, not CAPPUCINO!

AMERICANO!

AMERICANO!

Right, right, just a minute.

Right, right, just a minute.

Sentence stress is flexible.

句子重讀是靈活的。

It doesn’t follow strict rules; instead, it depends on the meaning you want to express.

它不遵循嚴格的規則，取代的是， 它取決於您想要表達的意思。

Sometimes, one idea in your sentence is more important than others.

有時，您的句子裡的一個想法比 其他的要更重要。

You’ll add extra stress to this idea.

您會添加額外的重讀到這個想法。

Why does this happen?

爲什麽這樣？

One reason is to contradict or correct someone.

一個理由是反駁某人或糾正某人。

For example:

例如：

Buenos Aires is the capital of China.

Buenos Aires is the capital of China.

No, Mikey.

No, Mikey.

Buenos Aires is the capital of ARGENTINA.

Buenos Aires is the capital of ARGENTINA.

BEIJING is the capital of China.

BEIJING is the capital of China.

Two plus two is five.

Two plus two is five.

No, Mikey.

No, Mikey.

Two plus two is FOUR.

Two plus two is FOUR.

Carrots are green.

Carrots are green.

No, Mikey.

No, Mikey.

Carrots are ORANGE.

Carrots are ORANGE.

Another reason to add extra stress is that you want to contrast two ideas.

另一個添加額外重讀的理由是 您想對比兩個想法。

For example:

例如：

i didn’t want CAPPUCINO; i wanted an AMERICANO.

i didn’t want CAPPUCINO; i wanted an AMERICANO.

she doesn’t live in PARIS; she lives in ROME.

she doesn’t live in PARIS; she lives in ROME.

the flight left at TEN? but i thought it left at TWELVE!

the flight left at TEN? but i thought it left at TWELVE!

Finally, you might add extra stress just to emphasise one idea in your sentence, like

最後，您可能添加額外的重讀只是 要強調您句子里的一個想法，

this:

像是這個：

ARE you going to london tomorrow?

ARE you going to london tomorrow?

--> Meaning: I’m emphasising the question, because I want a yes or no answer from you.

--> 意思是：我強調問題，因為我想從 您那裡得到一個YES或者NO的答案。

are YOU going to london tomorrow?

are YOU going to london tomorrow?

--> Meaning: I know some other people are going to London, but I want to know if you

--> 意思是：我知道其他人會去 倫敦，但是，我想知道

are going.

您是否會去。

This stress pattern is often used to show surprise.

這個重讀結構通常用於表達吃驚。

are you going to london TOMORROW?

are you going to london TOMORROW?

--> Meaning: I know you’re going to London on another day, but I want to know specifically

--> 意思是：我知道您某天會要去 倫敦，但是，我特別想知道

about tomorrow.

是不是明天。

Again, this suggests that I’m surprised.

同樣，這表明我是吃驚的。

In all of these cases, you add extra stress to one word in the sentence.

在所有這些事例裡，您在句子裡 給一個單字添加額外的重讀。

This doesn’t replace ‘regular’ sentence stress.

這不會取代“規則的”句子重讀。

Instead, it’s like an extra layer on top of it.

取代的是，它看上去像是在它 上面的額外的一層。

In the question Are you going to London tomorrow, the content words going, London and tomorrow

在問題“ Are you going to London tomorrow” 裡，實字going、London和tomorrow

are stressed.

是重讀的。

If you want to add stress to emphasise one idea, then you add this on top of the existing

如果您想添加重讀來強調一個 想法，那麼，您在現有重讀的

stress.

上層添加這個。

For example:

例如：

are YOU going to london tomorrow?

are YOU going to london tomorrow?

In this case, you add ‘regular’ sentence stress to going, London and tomorrow, and

在這個例句裡，您給going、London 和tomorrow添加“規則的”句子重讀，

‘extra’ sentence stress to you.

並且給you添加“額外的”句子重讀。

The ‘extra’ stress should be stronger than the ‘regular’ stress.

“額外的”重讀應當比“規則的 ”重讀要更強。

Try it!

試一下！

Repeat after me: are YOU going to london tomorrow?

跟著我重複：are YOU going to london tomorrow?

Try one more time: are YOU going to london tomorrow?

再試一次：are YOU going to london tomorrow?

Note that this ‘extra’ stress can be anywhere, including on grammar words.

注意這個“額外的”重讀可以在任何 地方，包括在虛字。

So now, you know the most important points about sentence stress in English.

所以，現在，您知道英文句子重讀 最重要的要點了。

Here’s a question: what do you think you need to focus on most in your English pronunciation?

這裡是一個問題：您覺得在您的英文 發音裡最需要關注的是什麽？

What would make the biggest difference for you?

對您來說，最大的區別應該是什麽？

Let us know in the comments.

請在留言板裡告訴我們。

If you give us a good idea, we might make a video about your suggestion!

如果您給我們一個好主意，我們或許會 製作一個與您的建議有關的影片。

Did you know that we offer online English classes which can help you to improve your

您知道我們提供可以幫助您進階 您的英文發音的線上

English pronunciation?

英文課程嗎？

Check out our website for details: Oxford Online English dot com.

更多細節，查看我們的網站： Oxford Online English dot com.

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！