Am I stressing the correct words? March 20

[musicgold]

Hi,

The bold words in the following sentences represent stressed word. I trying to figure the words a native speaker will stress when reading these sentences. Am I stressing the correct words?

1. “Bring me some silk every time you come”, she said.

2. Then at last, many years later, he found her.

3. You shall be my queen and our two sons shall be princes.

Thanks,

MG.

[birdeen's call]

Hi,

The bold words in the following sentences represent stressed word. I trying to figure the words a native speaker will stress when reading these sentences. Am I stressing the correct words?

1. “Bring me some silk every time you come”, she said.

2. Then at last, many years later, he found her.

3. You shall be my queen and our two sons shall be princes.

Thanks,

MG.

Without any context it would go like this:

1. “Bring me some silk every time you come”, she said.

2. Then at last, many years later, he found her.

3. You shall be my queen and our two sons shall be princes.

[musicgold]

birdeen's call,

Thank you. I also checked these sentences with a native speaker as well.
He doesn't agree on your choices in three cases. The person is in highschool.

1. 'every time' in sentence #1.

2. 'two sons' in sentence #3.

3. He thinks that 'shall' should be stressed in both cases in sentences #3.

[5jj]

Thank you. I also checked these sentences with a native speaker as well.
He doesn't agree on your choices in three cases. The person is in highschool.

Birdeen's call used the words "Without any context".

I am a native speaker with a few more years' experience than your high school student, and I agree with BC's response - without any context.

[musicgold]

fivejedjon,

Thank you. Just wanted to mention that I did not mean to doubt BC's work. I am trying to learn from anybody who is willing to help. I feel that even young native English childern have rhythm in their speech.

[birdeen's call]

The problems is that stress is not fixed in sentences. It depends on what you want to emphasize. Many readings of one sentence are possible.

[BobK]

The problems is that stress is not fixed in sentences. It depends on what you want to emphasize. Many readings of one sentence are possible.

Exactly. A disappointed greedy princess in a fairy tale, who expected a gift of silk at every visit from a suitor, would say “Bring me some silk every time you come. [Or else, next time, don't bother coming.]” Whereas, if she was disappointed in the gift because it was polyester, she'd say “Bring me some silk every time you come.”

You may say ”But you had to dream up some ridiculous fairy tale to produce that stress”. But the point is that every utterance, and its stress, is shaped by a unique set of circumstances.

b