Sentence Stress in American English: Emphasize Content Words for English Rhythm

Want to speak clearly and be easily understood by native English speakers? Then you need to master sentence stress in American English. Sentence stress is when we emphasize content words and de-emphasize or reduce function words. The contrast between content words and function words creates the natural rhythm of English. When we stress content words, we emphasize one syllable by making it longer, louder, and higher in pitch so that this word is extremely clear, easy to hear, and easy to understand. Native speakers are listening for English rhythm in order to know which words truly matter. Improving your sentence stress will help native English speakers understand you even if you have an accent or have trouble with your pronunciation. Sentence stress is an essential part of American English intonation.
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Find the transcript and more practice here: englishwithkim.com/sentence-s...
0:00 Introduction to Sentence Stress
0:35 Why We Stress Important Words in English
2:32 We Use Sentence Stress to Clearly Communicate Meaning
3:12 Content Words and Function Words
5:19 Examples of Sentence Stress
6:55 Different Levels of Stress Within a Sentence
8:30 How to Practice Sentence Stress
🤗 I’m Kim, and I’m here to help you express your meaning and your message through stress, intonation, and how you you use your voice and breath.
In other words, you’ll learn how to communicate clearly and confidently in American English so that people will definitely understand (and listen to) what you have to say.
📢 Want to improve how you sound, but not sure where to start?
These videos will help you find your voice in English:
• Find Your Voice in Ame...
👩‍💻 Learn all about courses and coaching right here:
englishwithkim.com/work-with-me/

[@Englishwithkim]

For even more guidance on word and sentence stress in American English, take a look at this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL81YJkck6j1vHrMoHzzgti7vMwqzjwWwZ

[@Englishwithkim]

Ready to work on your sentence stress? This is by far the most requested video I've made and I'm so excited to share my approach to sentence stress with you! 🎉 To practice sentence stress, leave a comment with a practice sentence (you can talk about anything you want) and CAPITALIZE the stressed words. I'm EXCITED to HELP you with your SENTENCE STRESS! 😉

[@ismaeldasylva1409]

thank you for this video that's very interesting and i find also you way of to speak is awesome

[@Englishwithkim]

Thank you! 😃

[@armandtchino8212]

I just love your lessons. You're great!

[@user-od5si2lc6k]

You're my best teacher ma'am

[@Englishwithkim]

That's kind of you to say!

[@aim2975]

Thank you for your efforts.

[@michaelalves-englishlearne5392]

Training my English listening with your videos. Thanks!!

thank you so much for the useful lesson.

[@smileydaysss]

Thank you for this video, it's exactly what I need. :)

[@Aroundworld777]

thank you so much dear teacher :)

[@yassinabdelrhman5875]

Wow you are good teacher

[@emmaxu8118]

So so so helpful and clearly explained. Kim you are a really good teacher :)

[@Englishwithkim]

I'm so happy to hear this was helpful - and I appreciate the compliment. Stress is so essential! 🙌

[@josemariaclavero4910]

As always, very clear and helpful, Kim. Thanks.

[@Englishwithkim]

You're most welcome!

[@KinhManCoiHangNgayVaSuyNiem]

Thanks so much Kim. Excellent lessons! My English speaking is much better after watching your videos.

[@Englishwithkim]

I'm so happy to hear that! Stress is extremely important for speaking more clearly and being more easily understood.

[@evamariavilamartinez8892]

I REALLY APPRECIATE your WORK, Kim. Have a LOVELY WEEKEND!☺☺

[@Englishwithkim]

THANK you EVA 😄 WELL DONE!

[@sammairalegend3072]

In all video u always said with clearly

[@Englishwithkim]

Thanks for noticing! I make an effort to communicate clearly in my videos. This one might help you too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5uogWmpgd5-oaM

[@marcoenot6677]

this is amazing!! excellent

[@Englishwithkim]

That's awesome to hear - glad it helepd!

[@thuyhang6410]

Dear Mrs. I am a sophomore. I was looking for a video for a big assignment of mine in class. And I stumbled across your video. It's really cool and how you convey your knowledge to people is amazing. This is exactly the video I was looking for. So I am writing this email to ask you if I can use this video in my assignment. It is purely for my learning purposes. Thank you very much. All the best, Thuy Hang

[@Englishwithkim]

Hi there! Thanks for the kind words. I'm happy to hear this was the video you were looking for. You are welcome to use this video for your assignment. Best of luck!

[@taiwoahmed7521]

Exactly what I wanted

[@Englishwithkim]

That's awesome!

[@Purple_Beard241]

Thanks very helpful.

[@Englishwithkim]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wontaeklim9580]

Thank you very much. It is very helpful to me.

[@Englishwithkim]

I'm happy to hear this helped you!

[@rameshwarraut1827]

Hii. Mem

[@rameshwarraut1827]

Hindustan

[@dweyodwelisu8094]

Thnk you for stress

[@Englishwithkim]

Happy it helped you understand stress!

[@user-mh9mb5jj4f]

hi,I'm really inspired by your video.I learned a lot. do u have vip class which can correct my accent.I m chinese by the way.pls give m a reply

[@Englishwithkim]

Hi there! I'm happy to hear this video helped you. You can learn more about how to work with me on my website: englishwithkim.com/work-with-me/ Feel free to message me through my website with your specific requests. For Chinese speakers, the biggest struggle is word and sentence stress, so I encourage you to check out my Stress Simplified program. I designed it based on my one-to-one coaching programs. Through the practice exercises, you'll definitely improve your accent, speak more clearly, and be more easily understood.

[@marydc6147]

Hi Kim! I've been practicing sentences stress for 3 weeks now. I feel odd and a little stupid because is not like I speak in my native language and sometimes I can't get the rhythm with the proper intonation especially when I read aloud. It's really frustrating.

[@Englishwithkim]

Can you remind me of your native language? As I mentioned in the video on word stress, it is completely normal to feel awkward when you're practicing English rhythm because it is so different than the rhythm you've been used to using for decades. Try to think of the contrast between stressed and unstressed syllables as a wave that rises and falls. One of my clients likes to conduct with his hands when practicing. But I would say, just keep with it, because it WILL start to feel natural with time and practice. That's why I include so many practice exercises in my programs.

[@marydc6147]

Spanish. I think is stress-time language. .

[@Englishwithkim]

Spanish is a syllable-timed language even though you do emphasize certain syllables with volume. If I were you, I would focus on lengthening stressed syllables on stressed words and try the conducting trick I mentioned to help you flow up and down. This video gives a few more tips that will help you with the flow: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZy5p6xrf9JsjLc

[@marydc6147]

English with Kim Thanks.

[@rafaeldelacruz2402]

Amazing The way you speak.are you an English teacher right?

[@Englishwithkim]

I've been teaching English in various ways since 2008, but these days I would call myself an accent and communication coach since I teach skills that you don't learn in a traditional classroom. 😉

[@rahmiastuti2652]

Hi teacher Kim, on the sentence "first thing" you stress them.. How about the words of very good. Should I stress the both of them as adverb and adjective? I hope you read my comment. I really need your answer.

[@Englishwithkim]

Technically, both words should be stressed because they are content words. However, in natural speech, you'll notice that one word of the pair receives the most stress. This helps create the natural rhythm and melody of English. The second tip in this video explains thought groups: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6rVn5-fjZ6Gd7c Stressing content words and reducing function words will help native English speakers understand you better. That's why we start with sentence stress. Learning to stress one word of a pair more than another is one of the nuances you may want to work on to sound even more natural. For more, check out this video on phrases with "and": kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWGconZsd6yWg7s and this video on phrasal verbs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKiZiGePrNafp5o

[@rahmiastuti2652]

@@Englishwithkim Thank you so much teacher... 😊

[@albertmo1722]

Hi Kim, You speak very fast. I wonder how many words you spoke in a minute (180 words/minute?) Did your students complain about it? Best, Albert

[@Englishwithkim]

No, they don't. In fact, people are usually excited to discover that I speak at a natural, normal speed. I primarily work with mostly fluent non-native professionals and academics who live in the US or Canada. My normal speaking speed is not a problem for them. If you hear education professionals speak more slowly on KZbin, they're targeting lower level learners, usually those who do not regularly interact with native speakers.

[@Englishwithkim]

I recorded a video on how to adjust my speaking speed last year, if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sF6XY5SEltGSoM0

[@albertmo1722]

Hi Kim, Thank you for your explanations! Now I know your target clients! You have great points. Keep up the superb work! Best, Albert

[@user-od5si2lc6k]

Ma'am can I have your Facebook link

[@Englishwithkim]

I don't use Facebook, just KZbin.

[@user-od5si2lc6k]

@@Englishwithkim thank you very much ma'am

[@mottahead6464]

I'm getting stressed by you putting so much stress on stressing.

[@Englishwithkim]

I can't stress it enough!

[@sedmi.kraskyagatapisiewicz4324]

Too much talking :(

[@Englishwithkim]

My style is not for everyone. That said, this video is from 2018, and I tried to make my more recent videos more concise, with more practice. Try this one instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpLJYpuLedafbtU