Pitch Patterns and Intonation

Part I

Instructions. Identify the pitch pattern in the following sentences. Remember that depending on the kind of sentence you have, you can have rising intonation or falling intonation, or a combination of both patterns.

1. Alicia seems to be a good student, but lately, she has trouble with her assignments.
2. Shall I buy Albert's present in a mall or in a departmente store downtown?
3. Don't tell me that Mr. Parker is indeed a pilot for British Airways?
4. Have you noticed that all the color pencils are on the desk?
5. How many chairs and desks are there in the classroom? Enough for all of us?
6. Who's your twin brother? Allan?
7. The he-dog chased the she-cat all around the garden.
8. Who's calling? Ann or Wilbert?
9. How often do you go to the movies by yourself?
10. Tim always does his homework on time. He's way too punctual.
11. This message was written for you, not for me.
12. Why do you think a dog wags its tail?
13. Seldom do my students use Spanish in class.
14. I can understand Miss McGrady's position, but not Mr. O'Connor's.
15. Could you possibly open the door for the guests?

Note: Don't forget that in a single sentence we should focus on the last content word.

Part II

Homework. To continue practicing pitch patterns, intonation, and sentence stress, work on the following links to assess your understanding.

Practice 1

http://esl.about.com/library/speaking/blpronounce_stress_words1.htm

Practice 2

http://esl.about.com/library/speaking/blpronounce_stress_words2.htm