1118.5 GROUP 2: STRESS THE SECOND
SYLLABLE BEFORE THE SUFFIX
8.5 GROUP 2: STRESS THE SECOND
SYLLABLE BEFORE THE SUFFIX
SUFFIX EXAMPLES
-ate ˈestimate, proˈcrastinate, ˈgraduate, ˈseparateSome words with -ate can be either verbs or nouns/adjectives. The
stress is the same for both, but the pronunciation of -ate changes:
Verbs: He’ll graduate from college. /ˈɡræʤuweyt/
-ate = /eyt/. Let’s separate the truth from the lies. /ˈsɛpəreyt/
Nouns/adjectives: She’s a college graduate. /ˈɡræʤuwət/
-ate = /ət/. That’s a separate problem. /ˈsɛpərət/
Some words with -ate can be either verbs or nouns/adjectives. The
stress is the same for both, but the pronunciation of -ate changes:
Verbs: He’ll graduate from college. /ˈɡræʤuweyt/
-ate = /eyt/. Let’s separate the truth from the lies. /ˈsɛpəreyt/
Nouns/adjectives: She’s a college graduate. /ˈɡræʤuwət/
-ate = /ət/. That’s a separate problem. /ˈsɛpərət/
8.6 GROUP 3: STRESS THE SUFFIX8.6 GROUP 3: STRESS THE SUFFIX
SUFFIX EXAMPLES-ee refeˈree, nomiˈnee, refuˈgee
-ese Japanˈese, Chinˈese, bureaucraˈtese
-ette diskˈette, kitchenˈette, cigarˈette
-esque picturˈesque, groˈtesque, Romanˈesque
-ique uˈnique, techˈnique, bouˈtique
-aire, -eer questionˈnaire, volunˈteer, engiˈneer
-esce, -escent, -escence coaˈlesce, adoˈlescent, adoˈlescence
8.7 GROUP 4: THE SUFFIX DOESN’T
CHANGE THE STRESS8.7 GROUP 4: THE SUFFIX DOESN’T
CHANGE THE STRESS
SUFFIX EXAMPLES
-able, -ible underˈstandable, ˈcomfortable, ˈpossible
-ness ˈkindness, ˈcarefulness, poˈliteness
-ful ˈcareful, ˈmeaningful, ˈbeautiful
-less ˈcareless, ˈmeaningless, ˈthankless
-ish ˈselfish, ˈyellowish, ˈchildish
-er, -or, -ess, -ist ˈteacher, conˈductor, ˈactress, ˈdentist
-ly (adjective/adverb) ˈmanly, ˈwomanly / ˈeasily, ˈquickly
-en ˈthreaten, ˈtighten, enˈlighten
-hood ˈbrotherhood, ˈchildhood, ˈknighthood
-some ˈhandsome, ˈtiresome, ˈloathsome
-dom ˈfreedom, ˈkingdom, ˈwisdom
-ward ˈhomeward, ˈseaward, ˈforward
-al (sometimes) ocˈcasional, ˈfictional, ˈpersonal
-ment ˈdocument, enˈjoyment, enterˈtainment
-ize, -ise, -yze ˈcapitalize, ˈrealize, ˈadvertise, ˈanalyze
Grammatical endings:
-s, -ed, -ing, -er, -estunderˈstands, ˈcatches, underˈstanding,
ˈcatching, ˈhappier, ˈhappiest