Change of Stress in Sentences

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assirk

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Can someone help me to provide meaning on the different sentences with different stresses?
1. a. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
b. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
c. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
d. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
e. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?

2. a. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
b. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
c. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
d. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
e. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
f. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.

3. a. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?
b. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?
c. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?
d. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?

4. a. The group will meet here.
b. The group will meet here.
c. The group will meet here.
d. The group will meet here.
e. The group will meet here.

5. a. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
b. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
c. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
d. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
e. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
f. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
g. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.

I already have my own answers, but I doubt it if it's right. So, I'm asking your help to make a comparison and correction.
Thanks!
:)
 

MikeNewYork

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Can someone help me to provide meaning on the different sentences with different stresses?
1. a. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
b. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
c. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
d. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?
e. Why did Jimmy refuse the promotion?

2. a. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
b. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
c. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
d. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
e. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
f. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.

3. a. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?
b. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?
c. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?
d. Is Atlas selling out to Macondray?

4. a. The group will meet here.
b. The group will meet here.
c. The group will meet here.
d. The group will meet here.
e. The group will meet here.

5. a. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
b. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
c. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
d. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
e. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
f. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.
g. Mr. David will take over the presidency next month.

I already have my own answers, but I doubt it if it's right. So, I'm asking your help to make a comparison and correction.
Thanks!
:)

The way this forum works is that we require your answers before we give our answers.
 

assirk

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There are some letters in each numbers that has incomplete answers.
 

5jj

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Welcome to the forum, assirk. :hi:
There are some letters in each numbers that has incomplete answers.
I don't understand what you mean there. You said in your first post that you had you own answers to the questions. All you have to do now is post your answers here. We will comment on them and suggest improvements.
 
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assirk

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Welcome to the forum, assirk. :hi:
I don't understand what you mean there. You said in your first post that you had you own answers to the questions. All you have yod do now is post your answers here. We will comment on them and suggest improvements.



Thanks for welcoming. Please do understand that I'm a newbie here.
I'll just give my some answers just to give you an idea about it.

In #2 a. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
Meaning: I know the first thing about wines but not on the vintage ones.
b. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
Meaning: I know the first thing about vintage but not on wines.
f. I don't know the first thing about vintage wines.
Meaning: Someone else knew the first thing about vintage wines.
 

5jj

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You have understood the message conveyed by the stress.
However, we don't use the affirmative 'I know the first thing about ...'; instead we say something like, "I know something about ...".
 

assirk

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I only understood some of the statements, not all, that's why I'm asking for help. I've tried using "something" also but I think it's different from "first thing". Doesn't it change the meaning of the sentence? I want to retain it's thought.
 

emsr2d2

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There isn't really an affirmative version of "I don't know the first thing about ...". It's a fixed expression meaning "I know absolutely nothing about ...". If that isn't the case, then "I know a little about ...", "I know something about ..." or "I know a lot/everything about ..." can be used depending on the extent of your knowledge.
 
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