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  1. #1
    Ook Choi's Avatar
    Ook Choi is offline Newbie
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    Default I put emphasis on the wrong words

    Hi teachers !

    I have pretty serious agony of my English. I have lived in Canada for more than 4 years.

    I am going to university this year. But I still have problems with my English. Especially

    when I read books, I put emphasis on the wrong words. I tend to emphasize on the word after

    verb. My English teacher has told me many times that I should've emphasized on the verb.

    First time, he thought that it was all matter of comprehension. But my understanding is fine,

    and my ordinary spoken English doesn't have that kind of problem.

    Does anyone know why I keep putting emphasis on the wrong words while reading? and

    How to fix it?

    Please help me out

  2. #2
    Hedwig's Avatar
    Hedwig is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: I put emphasis on the wrong words

    Quote Originally Posted by Ook Choi View Post
    Hi teachers !

    I have pretty serious agony of my English. I have lived in Canada for more than 4 years.

    I am going to university this year. But I still have problems with my English. Especially

    when I read books, I put emphasis on the wrong words. I tend to emphasize on the word after

    verb. My English teacher has told me many times that I should've emphasized on the verb.

    First time, he thought that it was all matter of comprehension. But my understanding is fine,

    and my ordinary spoken English doesn't have that kind of problem.

    Does anyone know why I keep putting emphasis on the wrong words while reading? Could it be because of the fact that your mother tongue is a tone language and you still need time to get used to English intonation?

    How to fix it?
    I'm sure you'll gett better in time, by means of practice and practice and practice...
    Please help me out

    Hedwig, not a teacher

  3. #3
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: I put emphasis on the wrong words

    Quote Originally Posted by Hedwig View Post
    Could it be because of the fact that your mother tongue is a tone language and you still need time to get used to English intonation?
    Hedwig, not a teacher
    Ook Choi says his/her mother tongue (native language, as per the profile) is German, which is not a tone language.

  4. #4
    Hedwig's Avatar
    Hedwig is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: I put emphasis on the wrong words

    I could've sworn I read Chinese.

  5. #5
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: I put emphasis on the wrong words

    When reading written texts aloud, people often do things like this because it's not very natural, and you say you don't do this when speaking normally, which would be more of a problem. How often do you have to read texts aloud?

  6. #6
    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: I put emphasis on the wrong words

    I think agony, by definition, is serious.

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